§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to audit the Calman-Hine recommendations on the organisation of cancer services; [106123]
(2) what role the Commission for Health Improvement will play in the implementation of the Calman-Hine recommendations. [106124]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 24 January 2000]: We are committed to improving the quality of cancer services through the implementation of the "Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services" (the Calman/Hine report) and subsequent evidence-based guidance.
The National Health Service Executive is currently developing national standards and performance indicators, based on the Calman/Hine report and guidance, which will be used by providers, commissioners and regional offices to deliver and measure continuous quality improvement in a consistent manner across the country within a national quality management framework. The NHS Executive will shortly be consulting on the draft standards and performance indicators prior to national roll-out from April 2000.
346WWe have asked the Commission for Health Improvement to conduct a national review of the implementation of Calman/Hine as one of its first major tasks when it begins work in April.