Cancer Campaigning Group responds to Government changes to the Health and Social Care Bill
The Cancer Campaigning Group is pleased to see that the NHS Future Forum and the Government have listened to the concerns of the cancer community and recognised the important role clinical networks will play in planning and delivering cancer services that improve the experiences and outcomes of cancer patients.
The Cancer Campaigning Group’s recent report, Ensuring effective commissioning of cancer services, revealed that the majority of GPs surveyed wanted support to commission cancer services effectively. We hope the commitment from Government to embed and strengthen clinical networks, alongside its recent announcement that cancer networks will be funded until 2012/13, will mean that clinical commissioning groups get the support they need. For this to happen it will be important that a guarantee is made that networks will be resourced in the longer term.
We are also delighted that the Government proposes to increase patient and public accountability in the NHS. It will be vital for commissioners to be supported to ensure they involve all of the communities they represent in the development of their plans.
These changes cannot be the end of the discussion on the NHS reforms, and we hope that the Government, NHS Commissioning Board and Future Forum will continue to engage with cancer charities and patients on the reforms, and what they will mean for patient outcomes.
Cancer Campaigning Group Steering Group member, Sarah Cant said:
“The CCG is reassured that the Future Forum and Government has identified the important role clinical networks will play in planning and delivering high quality, joined-up cancer services.
We are keen to work closely with the NHS Commissioning Board as the role of these networks is defined. This must happen quickly – to ensure that the vital expertise currently held in cancer networks is not lost and that the outcomes and experiences of patients are not adversely affected.”
