Linda Devereux Associate Director Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network - why we are here and what’s next!

Challenge of cancer – national context Major cause of concern to the public Every year over 200,000 people in England will be diagnosed with cancer Cancer is the biggest killer with 125,000 people dying each year Many more people are now living with cancer

National priorities Need to address variation in life expectancy Need to reduce deaths from cancer Need for investment to improve survival rates Need to improve access and end the ‘postcode lottery’

National Policy Improving Prevention Screening Cancer services in the community Treatment and care Cutting waiting times Investing in staff and facilities Future plans – research and genetics

Primary Care Secondary Care Tertiary Care General Practitioner District General Hospital Specialist Treatment Centre Aftercare and Support Cancer Patient pathway

Cancer Networks – The Benefits Opportunity to collaborate and share best practice Improved communication and standardisation Ensuring patients have the equal access to the best possible care and treatment across the network Coordinated across a patient pathways rather than formal organisational boundaries Opportunities for patient and user involvement

12 Hospital Trusts 7 Primary Care Trusts plus Isle of Man and parts of North Wales 2.3 m population Established in 2000

New cases of cancer - MCCN

Challenge of cancer – Merseyside and Cheshire Over 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year For the biggest single group – lung cancer – our rates are 18% higher that the national average Death rates are also higher – 5,500 people die each year from cancer. We have the worst mortality rates in the country – 21% higher than England

Partnership working Lead Clinicians Clinical Network Groups X 26 Localities X 5 Network Managers Network Board Lead Nurses and AHPs Development and Implementation of Cancer Strategy

Transformation of services Multi-disciplinary teams formed to manage every cancer patient Clinical expertise concentrated into specialist teams Better treatment – surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy Challenging waiting times targets achieved Development of screening programmes Emphasis on addressing health inequalities that exist through earlier detection and prevention Significant contribution made by patients, carers, volunteers and staff

Contrasting pathways - then and now..

Cancer Reform Strategy – challenges and opportunities Incidence of cancer is increasing as people live longer More people are alive having survived cancer Scientific understanding is improving greatly New opportunities for early diagnosis New treatments in the pipeline Potential to introduce new service models to improve convenience and outcomes for patients

Building for the future Bringing services closer to patients’ homes New models of services eg changing inpatient management Development of a comprehensive cancer centre Increasing incidence but new targetted therapies New technologies Needs of patients surviving their cancer and living longer Patient involvement critical as we deal with these challenges

Building for the future New cases of cancer set to rise Ageing population, obesity More people will survive and live longer Need for different kinds of support and care Better knowledge of how to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer Advances in medical technology Need for greater effectiveness and efficiency Patient and public involvement is critical