John Baron MP: NHS England announcement on earlier diagnosis could be ‘transformational’

MP welcomes inclusion of one-year cancer survival rates into top tier of NHS accountability

The Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, announced at ‘Britain Against Cancer’ today that all Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will have to report on their one-year cancer survival rates as part of the CCG Assurance Framework. This document ensures CCGs commission safe, high quality and cost effective services, to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer (APPGC) has been campaigning this year for these survival rates to be included in the Assurance Framework.

John Baron MP, Chairman of the APPGC, said,

“I’m delighted that from April 2015 all CCGs will be held to account on their one-year cancer survival rates. At least 5,000 lives a year could be saved if England’s survival rates matched European averages, and could rise to around 10,000 if we matched the best in Europe.”

“Late diagnosis makes for poor cancer survival rates. Holding CCGs to account on their one-year survival rates could be transformational in promoting earlier diagnosis at a local level, persuading underperforming CCGs to raise their game.”

“They can achieve this through different initiatives such as awareness-raising campaigns, better uptake of screening, better diagnostics at Primary Care, better GP training and referral programmes. The cancer community will hold underperforming CCGs’ feet to the fire.”