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Independent Cancer Task force
Independent taskforce charged with developing a five-year action plan for
cancer services that will improve survival rates and save thousands of lives.
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The taskforce has been asked to deliver the vision set out in the NHS Five
Year Forward view which call for action on three fronts: Better prevention;
swifter diagnosis and better treatment, care and aftercare.
Membership
Harpal Kumar – Chair
Shafi Ahmed – Royal College of Surgeons
Jane Allberry – Department of Health
Maureen Baker – Royal College of GPs
Juliet Bouverie – Macmillan Cancer Support
Adrian Crellin – Radiotherapy Clinical Reference Group
Sean Duffy – NHS England
Kevin Hardy – St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Anne-Marie Houlder - NHS Stafford and Surrounds CCG
Liz Hughes – Health Education England
John Newton – Public Health England
Clara Mackay – Cancer 52
Cally Palmer – Royal Marsden
Martin Reeves – Coventry City Council
Mike Richards – Care Quality Commission
Richard Stephens – NIHR CRN for Cancer Consumer Liaison Group
Sarah Woolnough – Cancer Research UK
Approach
• Evidence call
• Workshops
• Stakeholder group meetings (charities, health
care professionals)
• Themes (ie end of life, patient experience)
Statement of Intent: Signposting
initiatives
Big shifts over the next five years:
Up-weighting of prevention efforts, including secondary prevention
A multi-faceted approach to detecting many more cancers earlier
Reductions in variability of access to optimal diagnosis and treatment
Better planning and care of patients beyond initial treatment
A holistic model of care that addresses all aspects of patients care, particularly at key
transition points in the system
Patients feeling better informed, and more involved and empowered in decisions
around their care
Commissioning models based around health and wellbeing outcomes, with a
population focus
Clearer leadership and accountability for driving improvements, across the health
system
Cancer 52 – evidence (workshop and
NCPES analysis)
Early diagnosis
• Low levels of symptom awareness (professional and public)
• Lack of adequate referral pathways
• Delayed investigations
Access to treatment
• Access to specialists/specialist centres
• Variation in practice
• Access ‘processes’ (CDF/NICE) – fit for purpose ?
Patient Experience
• CNSs
• Information about disease/support groups
• Communication
Statement of Intent
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That there is unacceptable variation in access to and experience of care across geographies,
segments of the population and in cancer types
That research efforts must be maintained, both in the UK and internationally’, for cancers,
like ‘lung, pancreas, oesophageal cancer and most brain tumours [where] survival remains
stubbornly low.’
‘That some CCG populations have outcomes for some cancers close to some of the best
performing countries, but nowhere does this include all of the types of cancers studied.’
In most cases, patients presenting with symptoms to a GP are referred after the 1st or 2nd
visit. But in around of one-fifth of cases - particularly with less common cancers or where
symptoms are less specific, patients visit their GP 3 or more times before referral for a
diagnostic test.
There are variations in levels of satisfaction and amongst different group of patients. For
example, patients with rare and less common cancers have lower levels of satisfaction than
patients with common cancers .
That many patients do not have a satisfactory end of life experience. For example, only one in
5 of those cancer patients who die at home have complete pain relief all the time in the last 3
months of their life.
The new strategy will ‘seek to address variability in access to optimal diagnosis and treatment
in access.
Statement of Intent
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At the heart of the new strategy will be proposals designed to streamline the
diagnostic pathway for patients and reduce the burden of diagnosis relayed visits
to GPs.
One example is the multi-disciplinary diagnostic centres model… and consider
whether a broader range of triage tests should be provided in the primary care
setting.
System changes for earlier diagnosis also need to reduce, where possible, the
number of repeat visits required.
Single tier system for referral of patients with suspicious symptom…the Strategy
will consider whether all referrals for testing for suspected cancer should be
regarded as urgent.
We will consider whether CCGs should be required to…undertake an audit of
diagnosis by emergency admission.
More holistic care, including patients’ mental care, social care, and greater
emotional and practical support, for example dealing ‘with the financial
consequences of a cancer diagnosis.
Next steps…
• Apr-May – final TF meetings and workshops
• Strategy – in time for Comprehensive Spending
Review ….