§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed directly in the management of cancer within the NHS. [127653]
§ Mr. HuttonOf the staff directly involved in the management of cancer, the workforce census only separately identifies the medical specialties in the cancer group.
The specialties included in the cancer group are clinical oncology, clinical radiology, haematology, histopathology, palliative medicine and medical oncology. As at 31 March 2003, there were 4,059 169W hospital medical consultants within the cancer group in England. This represents an increase of 29 per cent. since September 1997.
§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the quality of care cancer patients receive from the NHS. [127784]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonSome of the cancer research funded by Government (an estimated total of £190 million in 2001–01) is on quality of cancer care. The National Health Service Research and Development Programme on Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) is currently commissioning projects on the evaluation of cancer services quality with an expected total value of around £0.6 million. The SDO Programme is also funding a £0.4 million project studying patient experience of cancer services. The NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment Programme commissions research on the comparative clinical effectiveness of interventions in cancer care.
The NHS Plan set out the intention to make available authoritative, evidence-based guidance on all aspects of NHS cancer care. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence was therefore asked to build on the existing cancer service guidance programme by commissioning a comprehensive package of guidance for cancer services covering all cancers. The Department's policy research programme has funded the evidence-based reviews underpinning the development of this guidance.
The findings of the National Cancer Patients Survey were published in July 2002, with 65,500 responses covering all 172 NHS trusts in England with eligible patients agreed to participate in the survey. In this, patients were commenting on treatment they received between July 1999 and June 2000—before publication of the NHS Cancer Plan in September 2000. The survey provides a benchmark against which implementation of the National Cancer Plan can be monitored.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time cancer specialists were working in the NHS, broken down by speciality, in each of the last six years. [127315]
§ Mr. HuttonThe table shows the number of hospital medical staff within the cancer group specialties, with full-time contracts for the last six years. Only consultant data are available for March 2003.
170W
Hospital medical staff within the six main cancer specialties by nature of contract All staff Of which: Consultant England All contracts
Full-time All contracts
Full-time 1997 All main cancer specialties 5,180 3,978 3,155 2,530 Of which: Clinical oncology 647 501 287 231 Clinical radiology 2,014 1,718 1,442 1,238 Haematology 1,026 733 488 393 Histopathology 1,027 770 769 581 Medical oncology 271 160 89 42 Palliative medicine 195 96 80 45 1998 All main cancer specialties 5,350 4,208 3,273 2,617 of which: Clinical oncology 676 540 299 246 Clinical radiology 2,075 1,752 1,481 1,252
Hospital medical staff within the six main cancer specialties by nature of contract All staff Of which: Consultant England All contracts
Full-time All contracts
Full-time Haematology 969 736 478 381 Histopathology 1,100 853 828 635 Medical oncology 327 221 102 57 Palliative medicine 203 106 85 46 1999 All main cancer specialties 5,688 4,488 3,362 2,698 Of which: Clinical oncology 698 560 305 248 Clinical radiology 2,164 1,842 1,507 1.269 Haematology 1,102 800 510 404 Histopathology 1,129 896 836 654 Medical oncology 375 278 110 69 Palliative medicine 220 112 94 54 2000 All main cancer specialties 5,955 4,669 3,528 2,770 Of which: Clinical oncology 711 572 307 248 Clinical radiology 2,303 1,923 1,585 1,297 Haematology 1,080 778 527 413 Histopathology 1,199 957 865 671 Medical oncology 404 292 133 77 Palliative medicine 258 147 111 64 2001 All main cancer specialties 6,375 4,983 3,721 2,848 Of which: Clinical oncology 776 631 333 260 Clinical radiology 2,454 2.026 1,645 1,305 Haematology 1,134 825 556 420 Histopathology 1,291 1,044 915 705 Medical oncology 435 301 147 90 Palliative medicine 285 156 125 68 2002 All main cancer specialties 6,706 5,227 3,913 2,929 Of which: Clinical oncology 785 638 315 237 Clinical radiology 2,538 2,063 1,702 1,326 Haematology 1,150 847 588 429 Histopathology 1,374 1,117 968 745 Medical oncology 504 355 185 103 Palliative medicine 355 207 155 89 March 2003 All main cancer specialties 1— 1— 4,059 3,059 Of which: Clinical oncology 1— 1— 366 265 Clinical radiology 1— 1— 1,781 1,401 Haematology 1— 1— 598 437 Histopathology 1— 1— 994 783 Medical oncology 1— 1— 172 94 Palliative medicine 1— 1— 148 79 1 Not available. 2003 data are taken from the medical and dental work force mini census, which only counted consultants. Note:
1997 to 2002 data as at 30 September and 2003 data as at 31 March.
Source:
Department of Health medical and dental work force census.