UK strategy to improve cancer services15 January 2007 The UK government has published a five-year cancer strategy focussing on prevention and improving services. The major actions involve:
Over £500m has been invested in additional and replacement equipment for cancer in recent years, including 167 new linacs for radiotherapy. Despite this, the number per unit of population is still low compared to other European countries, therefore additional radiotherapy equipment will be needed in many parts of the country. Also, despite investment in training, there is still a shortage of radiographers and a long-term workforce strategy is needed. The report acknowledges that proton therapy is a promising new technology, giving precise treatment and avoiding damage to non-cancerous tissue, but there is only one facility in the whole of the UK, and that is limited to eye treatment. From April 2008 other facilities for proton therapy will be commissioned by the National Commissioning Group and the Department of Health "will consider" options for providing proton therapy services. The number of drugs licensed for cancer treatment is growing rapidly, as is the expenditure on the new types of drugs. However, problems were identified in delays in approval of new drugs, including variability in the use of approved drugs across the country and poor planning for chemotherapy services in some areas. The government will be investing £250m in capital equipment for cancer services over the next three years. The revenue costs of the strategy are expected to be around £450m by 2010/11. However, the NHS is expected to be able to make savings of £320m by per annum by that time, mainly through eliminating unnecessary hospital admissions for cancer patients. Clinical Director of Cancer
Services Mike Richards said: "We have made good progress on cancer over the
past 10 years thanks to the efforts of many people throughout the NHS and
voluntary sector. Ciaran Devane, chief executive of the charity Macmillan Cancer Support , said: "Cancer patients are being diagnosed and treated much quicker today. As a result, more people are surviving the disease. The challenge now is to help these growing numbers live with the long-term medical, emotional and financial effects of cancer. Macmillan welcomes the new Cancer Reform Strategy and the strong emphasis it places on improving patients' quality of life." The University of Surrey welcomed the new strategy but said that "it
is extremely sad that the UK currently has no plans for the newest type
of radiotherapy which uses charged particles rather than x-rays. This
exciting new generation of radiotherapy, which delivers more damage to
the tumour and much less to the surrounding healthy tissue, will
especially benefit children and tumours that are more difficult to treat
with conventional (photon) radiotherapy. A report on particle therapy
was submitted to HMG by the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG)
last year. The UK Cancer Reform Strategy is
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