John Baron MP raises local NHS accountability in Parliamentary cancer debate

MP says CCGs must be held accountable on their one-year survival rates

Today in Westminster Hall, John Baron MP spoke in a debate secured by Pauline Latham MP, on the subject of cancer prevention and treatment.

John said,

“The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer and the wider cancer community have long campaigned for the one-year survival rate to be scrutinised at a local level as a means of promoting earlier diagnosis. Now we have the tools in the toolbox, we must use them. The Government needs to ensure that accountability and the levers of change are in place so that underperforming Clinical Commissioning Groups [CCGs] are under no illusions as to their fate should they not raise their game.”

The Minister replied that this was an issue that needed addressing. Her Department is raising the issue with NHS England, and it will be the subject of further discussions and debate.

John added,

“If we are to catch up with European averages and save an extra 5,000 lives a year, then we must hold CCGs’ feet close to the fire when it comes to their one-year survival figures. Such figures can only be improved if a range of initiatives are in play to improve earlier diagnosis. This is a wake-up call for CCG managements.”