Andrew Lansley's plans to stop funding for regional cancer networks could leave GPs without vital advice, it is claimed
Cancer patients could receive poorer care as a result of the government's plans to shake up the NHS in England, leading cancer charities are warning.
Andrew Lansley's plans to stop funding England's regional cancer networks next year will deprive GPs of a vital source of advice about where to send patients for treatment, according to the Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG), which represents more than 40 charities working on the disease.
They have told Lansley, the health secretary, that patients could suffer if the networks are disbanded a year before the planned new GP consortiums start work in 2013. They want funding extended until 2014.
The networks are groups of cancer specialists who help hospitals improve their cancer services and guide GPs about where their cancer patients should go to get the best quality care.
A new survey of GPs commissioned by the CCG found 82% believed family doctors needed that support in order to make the best-informed decisions to benefit patients.
"It is vital GP consortia understand and are able to meet both the clinical and the longer-term needs of people living with or after cancer. The government can't leave cancer care to chance by not confirming permanent funding for cancer networks. It is a deeply worrying prospect that the care of cancer patients could be compromised by this," said Ciaran Devane, the chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support. "Cancer patients need to know their care will not suffer because of the NHS reforms."
John Baron, a Conservative MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on cancer, has been pressing Lansley to extend funding for the networks until 2014 to guarantee a smooth transition of cancer services during the switch to the new NHS era in which GP consortiums will commission care. "This survey makes clear that GP consortia will need specialist support to commission cancer services," said Baron. "To guarantee funding only until 2012 risks losing valuable expertise which GPs have made clear they need if they are to successfully commission integrated cancer services. As the government conducts the listening exercise into the health bill, I hope it takes action following this survey."
A Department of Health spokeswoman said it was working with "pathfinder" GP consortiums to understand how it could help them to commission cancer services most effectively. "We recognise that there are some big questions about what we are doing. We are taking this time to pause, listen, reflect on and improve our NHS modernisation plans. We will listen and make any necessary changes," she said.