This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Most regions struggling with cancer care
New analysis shows that almost nine out of 10 NHS groups are failing cancer patients, with low rates of diagnosis and treatment.
The NHS England review reveals that most of the 209 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across England are performing poorly when it comes to diagnosing patients quickly, ensuring they get prompt treatment and boosting one-year survival rates.
Only 29 were classed as performing well enough to meet the ambitions set out in the 2015 cancer plan, which called for improvements in care so that by 2020 another 30,000 lives per year could be saved. Seven were highlighted as ’top performing’, while 22 were deemed ‘performing well’ - just 14 per cent of the total.
24 CCGs were ranked as being in ‘greatest need for improvement’, including NHS Blackburn with Darwen CCG, NHS Blackpool, NHS Bradford City, NHS Coastal West Sussex, NHS Doncaster, NHS East Staffordshire and NHS Leicester City. A further 156 CCGs were ranked as in ‘need of improvement’.
The findings show that two-thirds of areas are failing to achieve the target of ensuring 85 per cent of cancer patients start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral. Additionally, more than half are not seeing 70 per cent of cancer patients survive for a year - another stated ambition.
The data will now be used by cancer alliances which will work across regions to help drive up performance between now and 2020.
Dr Fran Woodard, the executive director of policy and impact at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “The fact that so many CCGs in England have been identified as providing inadequate care to cancer patients, or requiring improvements in this area, is very concerning.
“It highlights just how much the NHS is struggling to meet the challenge of delivering cancer services which meet all the critical needs of people with cancer.”
A spokeswoman for NHS England contested: “Cancer care is now the best it's ever been, but we've set stretching goals to save thousands more lives by 2020.
"Measured against this ambition it's not surprising that most local services need to make further improvements, but we're going to track progress transparently so everyone can see how we are improving care and outcomes for patients."
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