| answer text |
<p>Improving early diagnosis of cancer is a priority for this Government. We will
continue to work with NHS England, Public Health England and other partners to achieve
early diagnosis through improved screening programmes, Be Clear on Cancer campaigns
to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer to encourage people with signs
and symptoms to present promptly to their general practitioner (GP), and help for
GPs to refer more accurately.</p><br /><p>We have committed to implementing recommendation
24 of the Independent Cancer Taskforce’s report that by 2020, everyone referred with
a suspicion of cancer will receive either a definitive diagnosis or the all-clear
within four weeks. NHS England is working with partners across the health system to
consider how best to take this forward. A copy of the Taskforce’s report <em>Achieving
World-Class Outcomes: A Strategy for England 2015-2020, </em>is attached.</p><p>NHS
England has launched a major early diagnosis programme, Accelerate, Co-ordinate, Evaluate
(ACE), working jointly with Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support to test
new innovative approaches to identifying cancer more quickly. Outputs from the first
wave of test sites, which commenced in April 2015, will be delivered on a phased basis,
with the majority falling between September 2015 and December 2016. It is expected
that ACE Wave 1 evaluation will be complete by mid-2017. An ACE Wave 2 is being planned.</p><br
/><p>In June this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published
an updated guideline ‘Suspected cancer: recognition and referral’. The guideline focuses
on key symptoms, to make it easier to use and will continue to support GPs to identify
patients with signs and symptoms of suspected cancer, and urgently refer them as appropriate.
The guideline recommends a lower referral threshold for urgent referrals where cancer
is suspected. A copy of the guideline is also attached.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p>
|
|
