Cancer Reform Strategy - NHS Cancer Screening Programmes

6 CANCER REFORM STRATEGY9. Your NHS cancer services will continue to beproperly funded; and10.We will keep striving to improve the qualityof cancer services available.These pledges are at the heart of the CancerReform Strategy. You can read more about theactions that will enable us to keep them onpage 13.We have set out our commitment to devolvepower and authority to local NHS bodies andtherefore the way in which we continue tomake progress on diseases such as cancer mustchange. The Cancer Reform Strategy provides astrong foundation for how we will move forward.During the transition from central direction tomore locally driven improvement we arebroadening the scope of some existing nationalrequirements for cancer services. For example,we will be offering routine breast screening toolder and younger women and we are includingsecond and subsequent cancer treatments in the31 day maximum waiting time standard ratherthan restricting it to just the first treatment.I want to take this opportunity to thank thethousands of healthcare professionals andmanagers involved in cancer. Their hard workand commitment has made possible thesignificant progress on cancer already achievedand will be vital as we now start to deliver theactions in this strategy.I would like to thank everyone who hascontributed to the development of this strategy,particularly members of the Advisory Board andworking groups who devoted so much time,enthusiasm and creativity to developing theproposals which are central to the actions weare announcing today.This strategy represents an ambitiousprogramme for cancer services over the next fiveyears and I look forward to working with all thestakeholders involved in cancer as we implementthe actions set out today, making real our visionof building a world class cancer service.The Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson MPSecretary of State for Health