| answer text |
<p>The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funding a £2
million five-year programme of research to understand the reasons why cancer diagnosis
may be delayed, and to consider new designs for testing for cancer. The programme
is a partnership between the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Bangor, Durham, Oxford,
Exeter, the NIHR and Bristol NHS Clinical Commissioning Group. The programme objectives
are to design and test new service pathways to cancer diagnosis which are based on
sound medical evidence, make efficient use of resources and take full account of patients'
views. The programme ends in June 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department’s
Policy Research Programme funds the Policy Research Unit in Cancer Awareness, Screening
and Early Diagnosis at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University
of London. The unit carries out research to inform the development of policies that
promote diagnosis of cancers at an earlier stage than that prevailing at the moment.
These might include policies to enhance access to screening and diagnostic facilities,
technical innovations in screening and diagnosis, policies to improve public awareness
of cancer and cancer symptoms, and to encourage prompt seeking of medical advice for
symptoms. The unit is addressing this need with a programme of research carried out
in all areas of England in co-operation with screening services, primary and secondary
care.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We take the issue of ensuring rapid access to
innovative therapies, including those for cancer, very seriously. This is why we have
launched an external review of the pathways for the development, assessment and adoption
of innovative medicines and medical technology. This review will consider how to speed
up access for National Health Service patients to cost-effective new diagnostics,
medicines and devices. It will set out both short and long-term options for action
by Government and relevant bodies (including the National Institute for Health and
Care Excellence, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and NHS England),
and mark a major contribution to the policy debate.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>
</p>
|
|
