Planning for the future of cancer
One of Cancer Research UK's top policy priorities is to urge the Governments of the UK to plan cancer strategy for the long-term.
Cancer Strategy in England: the Cancer Reform Strategy
On the 3rd December 2007 the Government published a new five-year strategy for cancer in England, the Cancer Reform Strategy. The strategy set out a range of new measures and announcements across all areas of cancer policy, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship.
The Cancer Reform Strategy can be downloaded from the Department of Health website.
Cancer Research UK welcomed the strategy. In particular, is great news that the strategy announced that radiotherapy services will benefit from significant investment. These vital life-saving services offer the possibility of significantly improving survival rates in the UK. Half of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy and this funding should ensure that we have the capacity to deliver consistently across the country, without patients having to wait for long periods for treatment.
We are also greatly encouraged by the announcement that further action on sunbeds is being considered – this is crucial because melanoma is one of the fastest rising cancers in the UK.
Smoking remains the single biggest preventable cause of cancer and the commitment to go further on tobacco regulation is critical. Half of all smokers eventually die from cancer, or other smoking-related illnesses. And a quarter of smokers die in middle age -between 35 and 69. Any new regulation that helps reduce this and helps more people give up smoking must be welcomed.
We’re very encouraged that the time between receiving a cancer diagnosis and completing treatment is to be speeded up, not just for new drugs, but also for radiotherapy and for all stages of cancer treatment. This step, which will require considerable investment, will maximise survival chances and reduce anxiety for patients. But we need to ensure that the NHS has the extra money needed to meet these targets, particularly in radiotherapy where we know there are significant shortages at present.
We also welcome the commitment to ensuring that all cancer drugs, wherever possible, are assessed by NICE as soon as they are licensed. This will help put an end to the current situation where patients are left in limbo waiting many months, or even years, to find out if new treatments are to become available on the NHS.
Cancer Research UK was one of the many expert groups involved in developing the strategy so we look forward to working with the NHS to deliver these recommendations. It’s vital that these proposals are followed through if we’re to become among the best in the world at treating cancer.
Cancer Strategy in Scotland
The Scottish Government published Better Cancer Care: A Discussion, in February 2008. This consultation seeks views on the development of a new cancer strategy for Scotland, with an updated strategy expected in summer 2008. Cancer Research UK will be responding to the consultation, and will continue to work with the Scottish Cancer Coalition to influence the content of the new strategy. The Better Cancer Care consultation document can be downloaded from the Scottish Government website.
Cancer Strategy in Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government is currently working on a 2008-2011 strategy for cancer, as outlined in its policy statement on cancer from December 2006, ‘Designed to Tackle Cancer in Wales’. In March 2007, the Health Minister announced £4.5 million additional funding for cancer services from 2007/08.
Cancer Strategy in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the Chief Medical Officer has asked the Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN) to lead in developing service frameworks for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Care. The frameworks will include explicit standards underpinned by evidence and will set targets and specific timeframes.
Cancer Campaigning Group
Cancer Research UK is working in partnership with over 30 other national cancer charities in a coalition called the Cancer Campaigning Group to keep cancer high on the political agenda. For more information visit the Cancer Campaigning Group website.
King's Fund Report on the Future of Cancer Services in England
On 24th August 2006, the health think-tank the King’s Fund published a report commissioned by Cancer Research UK on the future of cancer services.
Called 'Future Trends and Challenges for Cancer Services in England: A review of literature and policy', the report uses a literature review and interviews with ten experts on different aspects of cancer to investigate the subject. It aims to stimulate debate about the next steps for cancer services in England.
The paper was written independently of Cancer Research UK, and can be downloaded free of charge from the King's Fund website.
