CANCER CAMPAIGNING GROUP URGES GOVERNMENT TO FULFIL CANCER REFORM PLEDGES
The Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG) – a coalition of the 40 leading cancer patient organisations in the UK - today calls on the Government to fulfil its recent promises in the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS). Click here to read the full report.
Whilst the CCG supports and welcomes the CRS as a strong blueprint for the delivery of cancer services in England over the next five years, CCG members remain to be convinced that the NHS will be able to deliver on the strategy’s many promises within this timeframe and with the limited resources available.
The CCG has consulted with its 40 member charities to develop a formal response to the CRS, and has rated the strategy as seven out of 10 for overall satisfaction, although some member organisations rated it as low as three (Figure 1). The consultation generated a number of significant concerns from the members, across many areas, including access to adequate funding for all aspects of services and research, effective commissioning and delivery at a local level.
The CCG will continue to work with Government to ensure that these concerns are addressed. The Group has produced a series of priorities for the first year of the CRS, which will be monitored and will form the basis of the Group’s annual report on progress. These are:
- OVERALL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN: The need for an effective implementation plan for the CRS with clear milestones for success by 2012.
- SPECIFIC PROJECT PLANS: Clear work plans for each of the new initiatives, such as Clinical Nurse Specialists, with clear objectives and timelines for delivery across all parts England.
- EFFECTIVE COMMISSIONING: Clear steps towards ensuring effective commissioning by PCTs and Cancer Networks with evidence that these initial steps are proving effective.
- FUNDING: Sufficient funding to ensure access to all new treatments, areas of care, research and prevention strategies across England.
- STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: Continued constructive engagement with the voluntary sector.
Throughout 2008, the CCG will be conducting workshops with its members and stakeholders from across the NHS in order to establish the areas that are proving most difficult in the implementation of the CRS. This valuable insight will be fed back to Government.
CANCER PLAN 2: THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL
Launch of the Cancer Campaigning Group 'White Paper'
The Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG), an influential coalition of national cancer-related charities, is proud to announce the launch of its 'White Paper', Getting it right for people with cancer: what the voluntary sector wants from the cancer reform strategy.
The White Paper outlines the vision of the coalition, working together to improve and save lives. It sets out ambitious yet realistic proposals for how to significantly reduce mortality rates and current inequities in cancer care, and create a service designed around the person throughout their cancer journey.
Download the Cancer Campaigning Group's 'White Paper'.
"I welcome the publication of the Cancer Campaigning Group's white paper which provides an important contribution to the Cancer Reform Strategy. I am particularly pleased that members of the Cancer Campaigning Group are directly involved in helping us to develop the strategy, as members of the advisory board or working groups. I would like to express my personal thanks for all that they do."
Rosie Winterton,
Minister of State for Health Services
The Cancer Campaigning Group believes that if these recommendations are implemented, more cancers will be prevented, and every person affected by cancer will receive high quality care, treatment, information and support. They will be equal partners in decisions about their treatment and care, from screening and diagnosis to end-of-life choices. Moreover, considerable improvements in outcomes could be achieved if resources are targeted and distributed more efficiently, using the tools available within the reformed NHS.
Download the press release.
Read more about the CCG's 'White Paper' and 'White Paper' process.
About the Cancer Campaigning Group
The Cancer Campaigning Group is currently supported by five pharmaceutical companies (Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Pfizer and sanofi-aventis). Luther Pendragon is employed as the secretariat to the CCG, to coordinate and manage activities and events as directed by the steering group, and provide communications advice and support. The steering group meets with representatives of supporter companies twice yearly to update them on recent and forthcoming activities. Supporting organisations do not direct or control CCG strategy, activities or literature. Health policy expert Edmund Waterhouse was commissioned in November 2006 as the independent author of the CCG 'White Paper'.
Richard Stephens, a cancer patient, celebrates the launch of the CCG's White Paper in Parliament, March 2007.
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The Cancer Campaigning Group is supported by five pharmaceutical companies:
