Written evidence from Cancer Campaigning
Group
The Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG) is a coalition
of over 45 national cancer-related charities representing service
providers, research, advocacy and campaigning groups for cancer
patients and their families. We campaigned for the introduction
of the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) in 2007, and welcomed the
NAO's finding that progress has been made as a result of the Strategy,
and under the leadership of the National Cancer Director, Professor
Sir Mike Richards. We believe that it is vital that momentum in
service improvement is maintained to the benefit of cancer patients
and their families, despite the current financial climate. However,
we are concerned by a number of the findings of the report and
would be keen for the Committee to ask witnesses about how they
plan to urgently address the following priority areas:
AVAILABILITY OF
STAGING DATA
Many people still present to their GP with their
symptoms at a late stage by which time their cancer is already
advanced. Diagnosing more patients at an earlier stage in their
disease would expand the range of treatment options available
to them and increase survival rates. We are concerned that the
NAO identified that staging data is collected in fewer than 35%
of cases in England, and that this varies from less than 15% at
the North West Cancer Intelligence Service to almost 70% of cases
in the Eastern Cancer Registration and Information Centre. The
CCG believes that staging data should be collected in all cases,
and that GPs should be incentivised to diagnose patients at an
earlier stage.
ONE YEAR
SURVIVAL RATES
The CCG supports the introduction of a one year survival
indicator as a way of tracking progress on early diagnosis, and
is pleased that this measurement looks likely to be included in
the NHS Outcomes Framework. However, it will be important that
data on one year survival rates is available in a timely manner
so that it can be of use to commissioners.
EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS
We are also concerned that the number of emergency
admissions for cancer has continued to rise since the introduction
of the CRS. The report shows that between 2006-07 and 2008-09,
emergency admissions have increased from 289,000 to 300,000. Emergency
admissions not only represent a significant and often avoidable
cost to the NHS, but also have a negative impact on patient experience.
It is clear that more has to be done to ensure that emergency
admissions are reduced, though earlier diagnosis, appropriate
referral and the closer monitoring of cancer patients during and
after treatment. In particular, we believe that enabling more
cancer patients to self-manage their condition, supported by cancer
nurse specialists, can deliver efficiency savings while also improving
patients' experience of care.
ONGOING REVIEW
OF PROGRESS
We hope that the issues identified above, and others
raised in the NAO report, will be addressed within the review
of the CRS currently underway (and to which the CCG has submitted
a formal response). We believe that it is vital that progress
on these and other issues continue to be measured. We would therefore
strongly advocate the NAO reporting again on this issue within
the next three years, and hope that this is something that the
Public Accounts Committee would support.
We hope that you will be able to address these issues
in your evidence session and report, and would be very happy to
provide more information if required.
30 November 2010
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