John Baron MP welcomes Government re-think on Cancer network funding

Secretary of State’s speech last night promises to extend funding

As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer, John Baron MP has been campaigning in Parliament for the Government to extend its guaranteed funding for Cancer networks beyond 2012 so that their expertise will remain in place until  the transition period to GP commissioning comes to an end in 2013/14. GPs would then have their expertise to call upon when commissioning cancer services for patients, at least during the early period of GP commissioning. The Government’s position had been that network funding would stop in 2012, but last night The Rt. Hon. Andrew Lansley MP, Secretary of State for Health, made clear funding would continue.

John said:

“The Government’s re-think on Cancer network funding will be met with a huge sigh of relief from the whole cancer community.”

“The Government’s position hitherto of ending network funding before GP commissioning became fully effective risked losing value expertise, and all concerned will therefore welcome this announcement. GPs will need specialist support when commissioning cancer services and cancer networks will now be able to provide this support.”