Cancer Reform Strategy - NHS Cancer Screening Programmes

CHAPTER 1: THE CHALLENGE OF CANCER 291.31 Each of these levers will be employed todrive the multiple improvements in cancerservices set out in this Cancer Reform Strategy.Subsequent chapters show how the differentlevers will be applied to tackle differentchallenges.1.32 Significant further investment will beneeded to deliver the world class cancer serviceswe aim to achieve. Overall costs of cancer areset to rise with increasing incidence and moreeffective treatments. We need to invest more inprevention and early detection. But there is alsopotential to improve efficiency and therebyrelease resources, especially in relation toinpatient care. Chapter 10 sets out thesefunding issues in more detail.Cancer and the NHS Next StageReview1.33 A major review of the way the NHSdelivers patient care is underway ahead of its60th anniversary in 2008. Led by health ministerLord Darzi, the NHS Next Stage Review willidentify the way forward for a 21st century NHSwhich is clinically-driven, patient-centred andresponsive to local communities. 101.34 The current stage of the review hasbrought together clinicians from across thecountry to focus on eight clinical pathwaysrepresenting the various stages in a person’s lifewhere they may encounter health and socialcare. These are: maternity and newborn;children’s health; staying healthy; long termconditions; acute care; planned care; mentalhealth and end of life care.1.35 With the possible exception of maternityand newborn care, cancer is an important partof all of the clinical pathways being considered.Key findings and recommendations from theCancer Reform Strategy will feed into the workcurrently underway at both the national andStrategic Health Authority level as part of theNHS Next Stage Review. Whilerecommendations throughout the strategy caninform the review, the moves set out in chapter7 for delivering cancer services in the mostappropriate settings are most directly relevant.