At its annual Parliamentary Summer Reception today, in addition to recognising those 20 CCGs which have most improved their one-year cancer survival rates over the last year, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer is launching a second inquiry into NHS England’s Cancer Strategy.
As we near the half way point from the publication of the Strategy in 2015, the inquiry will assess what progress has been made so far, to what extent the Cancer Strategy is being implemented at a local level, and whether we remain on course to deliver commitments and improve outcomes by 2020.
Following the inquiry, the APPGC will publish a report of its findings and recommendations at our ‘Britain Against Cancer’ conference in Westminster on 5th December.
The inquiry will hear oral evidence from a range of key figures, and is also inviting written evidence – please see ‘Notes to Editors’ for details of how to make a submission.
Announcing the launch today, John Baron MP, Chairman of the APPGC, said:
“I am pleased to announce the launch of the APPGC’s second inquiry to assess progress made as we approach the half-way point of the five year England Cancer Strategy.”
“The inquiry aims to understand what has been achieved so far and whether we remain on course to deliver commitments and improve outcomes by 2020. In particular, we look forward to hearing how NHS England’s Cancer Strategy Implementation Plan, which included commitments to key priorities including early diagnosis, rarer cancers and ensuring all patients have access to a tailored recovery package, has progressed since it was published in 2015.”
“I encourage all people and organisations with an interest in cancer to respond to the call for written evidence – details are below.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
To submit evidence, please contact Charlotte Nicholls from the APPGC Secretariat on: cnicholls@macmillan.org.uk. The Inquiry opens today (Wednesday 5 July) and closes on Wednesday 2 August 2017.
John Baron MP has been Chairman of the APPGC since 2009. Founded in 1998, the Group aims to keep cancer on the political agenda, monitor implementation of government initiatives, and ensure policy making is evidence-based and patient-centred.
The APPGC holds a number of events, including the annual ‘Britain Against Cancer’ conference, held at Westminster and which is one of the biggest cancer conferences of its kind in the UK. It regularly attracts over 400 delegates – including patients, charities, commercial companies and NHS professionals – who are given the chance to hear from senior figures such as the Secretary of State for Health, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and the Chief Executive of NHS England.
The APPGC invites written submissions from a range of stakeholders, including representatives from the NHS, charities, patient organisations, and commissioners. Submissions must address the Terms of Reference.
In addition to addressing the Terms of Reference, please use the following questions as a guide:
1. What progress has been made in implementing the Cancer Strategy? Is progress happening at a pace which will enable successful delivery of the Strategy against the timescales set out in the Taskforce’s report?
2. What evidence is there that the NHS, across the UK, is closing the gap with international averages when it comes to one-year survival rates?
3. With the formation of the 16 Cancer Alliances, what needs to be in place to ensure successful delivery of the Cancer Strategy? Are these structures and systems being established effectively and/or at the necessary pace?
4. What are the key challenges in implementing the Cancer Strategy, and how well are these being addressed? Have there been any valuable lessons learnt either nationally or locally?
5. What should the priorities be for the Cancer Transformation Board and the National Cancer Advisory Group in the next 12 months with regards to delivering the Cancer Strategy?
6. As we near the half way mark, has sufficient funding been allocated and made available for delivery of the Strategy to ensure that outcomes can be improved by 2020?
7. What evidence is there of improved outcomes for patients at a local level as a result of the Cancer Strategy and what data is being used to measure this?
8. What mechanisms are in place to involve patients in the delivery of the Strategy, and how effective have these been during the first year?
NHS England’s Cancer Strategy Implementation Plan can be found here.
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