Dudley Strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities 2010-15

7.5 CANCERTackling Cancer InequalitiesMuch needed progress has been made in cancer treatment and care over the lastfew decades leading to improvements in survival rates across the population as awhole. However despite these improvements it is still the case in England that if youare from certain social, ethnic, or age groups you are more likely to develop cancerand less likely to survive it.The aim of the Cancer Reform Strategy (Great Britain. Department of Health, 2007b)is to reduce inequalities in cancer incidence, increase access to high quality cancertreatment and care and improve cancer outcomes for all.The Department of Health‟s Public Service Agreement (PSA) for cancer mortality(ages under 75) included a commitment to reduce the absolute gap in mortality ratesbetween the England average and the areas with the worst health and deprivation(Spearhead PCTs) by at least 6% by 2010, compared to a baseline from 1995-97, aswell as to deliver an overall reduction in mortality of at least 20%.Progress on the PSA has been encouraging. Three-year average mortality rates forcancer (ages under 75) in England have fallen for each period since 1995-97 (thebaseline) and are now 18.2% below this rate. If this trend continues, the target will bemet. Progress on reducing the gap between England and the Spearhead Group ofPCTs has also been significant. The gap has reduced by 10.5% since the baseline,compared to the targeted reduction of at least 6% by 2009-11.118