Lansley announces U-turn on cancer networks
pharmafile | May 23, 2011 | News story | | Cancer, NHS, NHS reforms
Health secretary Andrew Lansley has declared that cancer networks will be maintained, reversing an earlier decision to axe them.
Lansley had previously refused to guarantee their continued funding, saying that GP consortia would have to decide whether or not they would survive.
But the health secretary has now bowed to pressure from cancer campaigners and doctors, and has guaranteed continued funding for them beyond the 2012/13 financial year.
The networks bring together experts to help improve cancer services in their area.
Speaking at the launch of the Anglia Cancer Network’s Be Clear on Cancer campaign last week, Lansley said the NHS Commissioning Board would support ‘strengthened’ Cancer Networks.
Andrew Lansley said: “Over the last decade, Cancer Networks and clinical networks in other areas of care have had a crucial role, taking the lead in the development of great advances in treatments, promoting excellence and improving outcomes.
“I am determined that we build more clinical leadership into designing services, bringing together new clinically-led commissioning consortia with colleagues in specialties across medical, nursing and health professions, to design services that meet quality, choice and outcome objectives.
“Clinical networks are a clear example of how this way of working delivers better quality,” said Lansley.
The U-turn is another change forced on Lansley, who was compelled to announce a ‘pause’ in the passage of his NHS reform bill because of widespread opposition. The consultation will be concluded in June, after which major changes to the plans are expected to be unveiled.
Lansley said clinical networks would now play a key role in the future of the health service.
“We are listening to the views of clinicians in the field, and will respond by ensuring that, through the reforms, the role of a broad range of clinical networks is centre stage to how clinical services are designed. This will help deliver for other conditions the sense of clarity of purpose established in cancer services.”
Ciarán Devane, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “This change of mind is great news for cancer patients as it provides important reassurance that their care will not be put at risk by the health reforms.
“We’re very pleased the Government has listened to our concerns and recognised the importance of cancer networks in commissioning high quality cancer services.
“The Government is right to cut bureaucracy but it made no sense to risk losing the valuable specialist knowledge and personnel that cancer networks provide.
“The NHS now needs to look at how GP commissioners will be supported in the long-term to ensure patients continue to receive coordinated care, especially in this tough economic climate.”
The Coalition Government’s cancer strategy – Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer – was published in January 2011 and committed to funding Cancer Networks in 2011/12.
Andrew McConaghie
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