WHAT IS A CANCER NETWORK?

Currently, there are around thirty Cancer Networks across the Country whose populations range from six hundred thousand to three million. The Cancer Networks were established following the recommendations of the Calman-Hine report (1995) and the more recent NHS Cancer Plan (September 2000) and the Manual of Cancer Standards (April 2001).

Cancer Networks bring together a range of organisations; those who provide services, as well as those who fund them, and are the vehicle for ensuring that all patients within their population area have equal access to the highest quality of cancer services available.

The Pan Birmingham Cancer Network has been established to improve the management of the patient journey between primary, secondary, tertiary and voluntary providers in the provision of services to people and their families with cancer.

Its core objectives are to:-

• Develop all aspects of local cancer services: prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, supportive and specialist palliative care.

• Develop multi-disciplinary teams and make arrangements to ensure that all patients are reviewed by them prior to treatment.

• Agree common protocols and service patterns to tackle variations and make best use of resources available.

• Develop workforce education, training and facility strategies.

The Cancer Network also links with the Cancer Services Improvement Partnership, which is part of the National Modernisation Agency, involved in redesigning cancer services to ensure the needs of patients are met; whilst also helping to reduce any unnecessary delays.

The goal of the Network is to deliver the best achievable provision and standard of care to the population that is covered by the Network. This is achieved through a collaborative organisation which is based on members of staff who have expertise in cancer diagnosis and management.