To receive the consultation document and presentation from NHS colleagues.

The Committee received a presentation on the proposed redesign of NHS specialised cancer services from Linda Devereux, the Service Specialist for NHS England’s Cheshire, Wirral and Warrington Area Team who commission cancer services for the North-West region, and Claire Yarwood, the Director of Finance for NHS England (Greater Manchester). The presentation set out plans to improve outcomes of treatment and bring services in line with national standards by concentrating complex diagnostic and surgical expertise with a smaller number of specialist providers in centres of excellence.

It was explained that the existing arrangements were inefficient, with too many hospitals providing similar specialised services resulting in issues including inconsistent distribution of patients between providers, some providers not having adequate numbers of specialist staff and core quality standards not being met in some centres. The Committee was informed that the concentration of specialist cancer services under the plans would address these issues and improve clinical outcomes and patient experience.

It was emphasised that the changes related specifically to specialist surgery and that most cancer treatment would remain the same. It was anticipated that the changes to service delivery would affect less than 700 patients undergoing this type of surgery, so the scale of change was relatively minimal.

The Committee asked a series of questions on the impact that proposals might have on patients’ travel requirements, the existing specialist teams and the hospitals affected. Linda Devereux stated that the effect on patients having to travel further would be revealed through the consultation but acknowledged that some patients will inevitably have to travel further when specialised services are reorganised. It was confirmed that specialists were expected to transfer to new sites and that providers would be required under the contracting framework to ensure that specialist expertise was retained. It was further stated that patient numbers handled by surgeons would comply with national guidelines following the adoption of the plans and that an emphasis was being placed on maintaining the stability of the service.

The Committee asked that comparative figures be provided to illustrate the impact on service delivery in areas where the model had already been implemented. It was also requested that the Committee were kept up to date with developments in the procurement process, particularly in relation to specialist urological cancer treatment.

The Chair thanked Linda Devereux and Claire Yarwood for their presentation and for addressing the Committee’s concerns.

RESOLVED:

1)            That the presentation be noted;

2)            That the Committee’s comments be fed in to the consultation;

3)            That information be provided to the Committee to show how the implementation of the model for delivering specialised cancer services in other areas had affected clinical performance and patient experience; and

4)            That the Committee be kept informed of the result of the procurement process.

To note the consultation document and to ask NHS colleagues to attend the September meeting to provide a more detailed briefing.

The Committee received a report from NHS England seeking to engage with the Committee on the proposed redesign of specialised cancer services. The report stated that the purpose of the review was to improve outcomes of treatment, enhance patients’ experience and ensure safe and sustainable services are provided within Greater Manchester and East Cheshire.

The Committee were asked to note the consultation document and to ask NHS colleagues to attend the September meeting to provide a more detailed briefing.

RESOLVED - That NHS England attend the next meeting to present the report.