Cancer Services (Hansard, 16 December 1998)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to create a nursing position which would provide a link between doctor, community and hospital in the treatment of cancer patients. [63712]

§ Mr. Sayeed
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce, on a national basis, the scheme under which GPs receive support from an oncology nurse who liaises between the hospital and GP. [63474]

§ Mr. Hutton
The Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services (Calman/Hine report) covers the organisation and delivery of cancer services through the development of a specialist, multi-professional, multi-disciplinary workforce, better co-ordination between the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors and the greater560W involvement of patients in care and prevention. As part of the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine recommendations, a primary care and cancer working group will shortly put recommendations to Ministers on how primary care can best contribute to the provision of a seamless, comprehensive and high quality cancer service. We can then consider how nursing posts can best be developed to deliver high quality care for cancer patients within acute and community settings.

§ Mr. Sayeed
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to representations from GPs on cancer care services. [63465]

§ Mr. Hutton
Substantial progress has already been made in improving the organisation and delivery of cancer services through the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine recommendations and an integrated network of cancer care. Primary care is seen as the focus of care and we welcome the results of a recent MORI poll that shows that general practitioners want to improve and be involved in improving cancer services.
A working group on primary care and cancer is currently considering how the primary care role can be developed to allow GPs to contribute fully to the ongoing improvements in cancer services. The group's recommendations will be put to Ministers shortly.