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NHS Cancer Research Network launched
The NHS Plan published last July dealt with investment and reform throughout
the NHS. Most of us are aware that the amount of money being spent is set to rise but, in
areas of interest to our readers, what is it being spent on?
Cancer Services
were identified as high priority and three targets set.
1. To address socio-economic gaps, the 'post code' lottery and the disproportionate
disadvantages caused by poverty. Smoking is still the biggest preventable risk factor for
cancer. In twenty areas with the highest smoking rates the aim is to reduce the rate from
one in three people to one in four by 2010.
2. To establish and meet targets to reduce waiting times for diagnosis and
treatment. We wrote about the steps to reduce diagnostic waiting times in September's Update
and consider the wait for treatment in this edition.
3. By 2004, to actually match what the voluntary sector spends on hospices
and palliative care services. (What a shaming target! And why wait four more years for
its achievement?)
Within the overall NHS plan, there is a specific and wide ranging cancer plan
which includes elements to:
Address healthy lifestyles
Raise public awareness of dangerous signs and symptoms
Extend screening services (including making PSA testing available)
Increase staff numbers. By 2006 there will be approaching 1000
extra cancer specialists, a 32% increase in the number of urologists and a 20% increase in the
number of general surgeons
Invest in new equipment. The next three years should see 50 new MRI
and 200 new CT scanners to increase diagnostic capacity and 45 new linear accelerators for
radiotherapy
Strengthen the research base by setting up and funding a new National
Cancer Research Network that will co-ordinate research into cancer genetics and oversee the
doubling of the number of cancer patients entering clinical trials in the next three
years. It will also advise on spending the £4.2 million for directly commissioned
research which will be available by 2003/4. This funding is a twenty fold increase over
the 1999/2000 figure.
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