11.10.13
‘Fantastic progress’ on cancer services – NHS IQ
Cancer services are improving, the latest National Peer Review Report: Cancer Services 2012/13 shows.
Of the multidisciplinary teams evaluated, 52% scored over 90% against the peer review measures, compared with 28% in 2011/12. 323 chemotherapy services, 166 radiotherapy and 37 acute oncology services also achieved more than 90% compliance with the measures.
For the 25 teams whose compliance was just 50% or under, action plans have been put in place and the chief executives of the trust and the CQC have been notified.
Ruth Bridgeman, NHS Improving Quality programme director, said: “All cancer patients in England have the right to expect the best diagnosis, treatment, care and outcomes.
“There has been fantastic progress over the last decade but it is important for us not to rest on our laurels. There are many ways in which the NHS can continue to improve care for people with cancer, from ensuring services are as safe as possible to identifying examples of good practice and learning from these, so everyone has access to the same quality of treatment.
“This report not only maps out how services have improved since the year before but also gives us great insight into the areas we need to focus on going forward.”
Sean Duffy, NHS England national cancer director, said: “In light of the report of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public enquiry, the Keogh Review: Hospital Death Rates and the report A promise to learn – a commitment to act, it is important we work together in the NHS as clinicians, managers and commissioners to address these services.
“Some of these will have already been addressed at a local level following the relevant visits and reports. Others will need to be addressed now. In some cases, compliance could be improved through local effort, but without the need for additional resource.
“In other cases commissioners will need to consider whether it is practical for a team to achieve full compliance, or whether two or more neighbouring teams need to be merged to achieve sustainability, both of workforce and throughput of patients.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]