Survivorship: Living with and beyond cancer

NHS Improvement is leading and supporting the testing of new models/approaches of care for those living with and beyond cancer, as part of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI). To access the NCSI website please click here.

The Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) outlined the need for a NCSI to improve the care and support provided for those living with and beyond cancer. The initiative is jointly chaired by Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director and Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support.

NHS Improvement are making a significant contribution to the delivery of the Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) and has identified survivorship: living with and beyond cancer as one of its key priority areas for the next 3-5 years. The work of NHS Improvement will support the delivery of four of the seven NCSI workstreams through the development testing and evaluation of approaches to care and support for those living with and beyond cancer.

There are two workstreams for those living with and beyond cancer; Adult and Children & Young People. There are currently 10 Children & Young People test communities and 16 Adult test communities. Further Adult test communities will be commissioned for the NCSI workstream over the next few months. Information on the test communities can be found here.

Current key areas of work for the Adult workstream are:

• Test Communities (Projects & Learning events)
• Picker Experience of Care
• Review of current follow-up practice
• Resources
• Clinical reference group

For further information you can contact:

Gilmour Frew, Director - Cancer Improvement
Email: gilmour.frew@improvement.nhs.uk
Tel: 0774 777 6578

Louise Fowler, National Improvement Lead - Cancer Improvement
Email: louise.fowler@improvement.nhs.uk
Tel: 07795 666 456

Anne Wilkinson, National Improvement Lead - Cancer Improvement
Email: anne.wilkinson@improvement.nhs.uk 
Tel: 07827 309 156

Vanessa Brown, National Improvement Lead - Cancer Improvement
Email: vanessa.brown@improvement.nhs.uk 
Tel: 07748 704 288

Nina Webb, Personal Assistant - Cancer Improvement
Email: nina.webb@improvement.nhs.uk
Tel: (0116) 222 5112

Focusing on Children and Young People

An exciting workstream focusing on 'Children & Young People Surviving Cancer' is now underway as one of the seven workstreams NHS Improvement are supporting as part of the five year national strategy of "Survivorship; Living with and Beyond Cancer" (Chapter 5 of the Cancer Reform Strategy. December 2007).

As more children are cured of cancer, longer term adverse effects of treatment may become apparent and the duration of life beyond cancer could be 50 years plus. In addition, the need to ensure a normal future - physically, emotionally and educationally is crucial to children and young people. The focus of this workstream will be to work with health care professionals, charities, patients, and other public sector providers of care and support to make a real difference to the care and support each individual child and young person receives as a cancer survivor.

The emphasis will be to look at the provision of care and support in an holistic way so that individualised needs are met consistently.

We are presently agreeing the overall priorities so that this workstream can be developed with clear outcomes and benefits delivered to patients and their carers as they survive cancer.

For more information you can contact:

Patricia Morris, Director - Cancer Improvement
telephone number 0191 3868717 or 07899 787 215

Joy Bartley, NHS Improvement Personal Assistant
telephone number 0191 3868717 or 07900 223 354