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Cancer
The Department’s policy for cancer services in England is set out in the Cancer Reform Strategy
It aims to improve cancer prevention, speed up the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, reduce inequalities, improve the experience of people living with and beyond cancer, ensure care is delivered in the most appropriate settings and ensure patients can access effective new treatments quickly.
Cancer news
25 June 2009
Dear colleague letter from Mike Richards, National Cancer Director
24 June 2009 - Minutes of the Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening Review into screening in women aged 20 to 24
22 June 2009
6 May 2009: Uptake of NICE approved cancer drugs 2007/2008
This letter from Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, outlines the findings on the usage of NICE approved cancer drugs in 2007/ 2008
27 February 2009
20 February 2009: Cervical screening factsheet
12 January 2009
The cancer commissioning guidance sets out, in an easy-to-use format, key issues and questions that commissioners and cancer network teams will want to take into consideration when assessing health needs, reviewing services, developing their contract service specifications and monitoring performance.
!7 December 2008
16 December 2008
2 December 2008: Dear colleague letter on new standards for waiting times
Letter explaining the new standards for cancer waiting times that come into force on 1 January 2009, and the associated changes in the methodology for collecting and reporting data on those standards
1 December 2008: Cancer reform strategy: maintaining momentum, building for the future: first annual report
The first annual report on the Cancer Reform Strategy - Maintaining momentum, building for the future - has been published. The report sets out the progress that has been made since the Cancer Reform Strategy was published in December 2007, priorities for the future, and any developments in the past year which affect the Strategy's continued implementation.
12 November 2008: Chemotherapy services in England: ensuring quality and safety
The National Chemotherapy Advisory Group has issued this draft report for consultation The aim of this report is to bring about a step change in the quality and safety of chemotherapy services for adult patients with either solid cancers or haematological malignancies.
2 October 2008: National Cancer Survivorship Initiative newsletter
The Cancer Reform Strategy made a commitment to improve patients' experience of living with and beyond cancer. As a result, the Survivorship Initiative has been established to consider a range of approaches to survivorship care. This Initiative was formally launched on 11 September, and its first newsletter is attached.
8 September 2008: Improving outcomes in children and young people with cancer: guidance on commissioning services for young people
Letter containing the document Key messages for commissioners of cancer services for teenagers and young adults, developed by the National Cancer Action Team (with advice and support from an expert working group) at the request of the Children and Young People Improving Outcomes Guidance (CYPIOG) Advisory Group to support the implementation of National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance, Improving outcomes for children and young people with cancer.
Cancer Reform Strategy
The Cancer Reform Strategy, published in December 2007, builds on the progress made since the publication of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000. It sets out a clear direction for cancer services over the next five years and shows how we will deliver cancer outcomes that are amongst the best in the world.
In the first annual report of the Cancer Reform Strategy, Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director, sets out the considerable amount of progress made in implementing the Strategy since its publication in December 2007. The report covers the wide range of actions that were set out in the Strategy, highlighting areas of particular progress and setting out a range of priorities for the future.
Cancer publications
Key DH documents about cancer and cancer care, principally for NHS staff and health professionals.
Manual for Cancer Services 2004
This revised Manual of Cancer Services is an integral part of the NHS Cancer Plan and modernisation of cancer services. It supports quality assurance of cancer services and enables quality improvement.
Screening for cancer
Information and guidance about cancer screening programmes.
Cancer waiting times
A long-term goal set in the NHS Cancer Plan was that no suspected cancer patient should have to wait more than a month from time of being referred by their GP, until the start of treatment.
Cancer datasets
National cancer datasets that ensure consistency across healthcare boundaries were noted as a high priority in the June 2000 Cancer Information Strategy.
The national cancer registration system
The function of the nine regional cancer registries in England is to collect comparable, good quality cancer data and find trends and causal connections.
Cancer workforce
Initiatives and policies to help train and expand the cancer care workforce.
Cancer research
The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) launched on the 1 April 2001, brings together the major funders of research (including the Government, the voluntary sector and industry) and allows a more strategic approach to identifying and supporting cancer research.
End of life care
Information on: the End of Life Care Strategy – promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life; how the Government's commitment on end of life care will be delivered; other end of life care-related issues and programmes.
Additional links
NHS Cancer Plan
Government strategy document, setting out the actions needed to improve cancer prevention and screening services, cut cancer patient waiting times, enhance treatment and palliative care services, and boost UK cancer research.
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