John Baron MP welcomes NHS England’s Cancer Implementation Plan

MP says focus on earlier diagnosis, workforce issues and recovery packages is needed

Tomorrow (12th May) Cally Palmer, National Director for Cancer at NHS England, will launch an Implementation Plan. The plan follows on from last year’s Independent Cancer Taskforce’s report into cancer services, and sets out how the NHS will implement many of the Taskforce’s recommendations in the coming years. The Implementation Plan particularly focuses on earlier diagnosis, which has also been the cynosure of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer’s campaigning since 2009.

John said,

“The £15 million funding to support earlier and faster diagnosis of cancer, including the testing of the new four-week diagnosis standard, rightly reflects the wider cancer community’s view that earlier diagnosis is cancer’s ‘Magic Key’, and needs to remain a priority.”

“However, NHS history is littered with ‘process’ initiatives which have failed to close the gap on international survival rates. This is why emphasis on one-year survival rates, broken down by Clinical Commissioning Group, is key given their improvement is dependent on diagnosing earlier.”

“The Implementation Plan’s focus on Cancer Alliances will pick up where the old Cancer Networks left off, whilst the initiatives regarding workforce and recovery packages will be welcomed by all.”