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Changes underway in London's cancer services

On this page you will find details of:

1. The Case for Change - a new system needed for London?
2. The Cancer Model of Care - how London plans to implement 'the Case for Change' recommendations 
3. How many integrated cancer systems will there be?
4. Progress
5. The London Cancer Alliance
6. The London Patient Advisory Group
7. How to get updates
8. How to give your views

1. The Case for Change - a new system needed for London?

In 2009, Healthcare for London published the Cancer Case for Change which argued the need to improve London's cancer services.

The case highlighted:

• The capital's late diagnosis rates (which lead to poor survival rates)
• Inequalities in access to cancer services, including inequalities in outcomes of care
• A recommendation that treatment should therefore be standardised across the capital, enabling patients to get the same quality of service no matter where they live.
• Specialist surgery should take place in a few Trusts to ensure those carrying out the procedures have sufficient experience to be competent.
• And common treatments should be localised where possible.

2. How to resolve these prolems - The Cancer Model of Care

London's cancer community were in turn asked to form an overarching plan to deliver the recommendations from the Case for Change.

The plan was produced through the publication of The Model of Care in January 2011.

Authorised by more than 45 lead cancer clinicians, the Model of Care suggested that to implement the recommendations from the Case for Change, there should be new NHS organisations known as integrated cancer systems.

These systems would bring together the key groups involved in a patient's cancer journey together; namely primary care (e.g. GP's), secondary care (doctors and nurses in Hospitals), and social care.

By bringing these groups together, the integrated cancer systems will be able to look at developing entire cancer pathways; ensuring these groups are collaborating as effectively as possible at all stages of cancer care. From when a patient first sees their GP, diagnosis and treatment, and the care they received when treatment is completed.

3. How many integrated cancer systems will there be?

The hospital's in London were asked to propose how many integrated cancer systems there should be for London. They proposed two. These are:

• The London Cancer Alliance - which covers South East London, North West London, South West London
• and London Cancer - which covers North East London, North Central London.

Please click here for a map of the areas the integrated cancer systems cover.

4. Progress

Neither Integrated cancer system has been authorised as of yet.

Implementation Boards comprising of health-professionals from both proposed integrated cancer systems have been asked to put together proposal plans, stating how their systems will run and be governed.

The London Health Programmes concluded that good progress had been made and that both systems should be authorised, subject to agreed action plans for their further development. The action plans were submitted on the 31st October 2011.

5. The London Cancer Alliance 

Please click here for a summary note from the London Cancer Alliance.

6. The London Cancer Alliance Patient Advisory Group

A patient advisory group has been formed to support the London Cancer Alliance. This group will provide a patient perspective to documents produced by the London Cancer Alliance before they are finalised and sent to the London Health Programmes.
 
The group comprises of:

• The user involvement facilitators for North West, South East and South West London.
• Two user representatives from the North West, South East and South West London User Partnerships
• And a LINks representative, covering North West, South East and South West London 

Please click here to view the rules of engagement for the group. If you would like to contact the panel, or be added to the circulation list so we can gain your views please contact daniel.callanan@nwlcn.nhs.uk

7. Updates

If you would like to be kept updated with developments of the integrated cancer systems please contact daniel.callanan@nwlcn.nhs.uk

Equally, please see the London Health Programmes bulletins for monthly updates.