London Cancer and the UCLH Cancer Collaborative: transforming cancer services
On Tuesday 7 June UCLH launched the new UCLH cancer collaborative and London Cancer shared a roundup of the work they’ve been doing over the past year, improving cancer care for a population of over six million people.
London Cancer delivers the integrated cancer programme for UCLPartners AHSN, serving north east and central London and west Essex, working with healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive and seamless cancer care. The UCLH cancer collaborative forms part of the national cancer vanguard, aiming to change the way cancer care is provided, creating a model that can be rolled out across the NHS.
An audience of 170 attended the event at Queen Square which focussed on London Cancer’s three areas of focus: earlier diagnosis, reducing variation and improving access to innovation and improving patient experience.
Linda Hill, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2014, shared her story at the event. Linda’s treatment began at the Royal Free but was later transferred to UCLH as cancer services were reconfigured. Linda spoke of the “seamless cohesion” in services that she experienced and praised those who delivered her care. Further examples of work that have delivered significant benefits to patients were shared, including successful service reconfigurations in both prostate cancer and renal cancer services.
The event laid out the cancer vanguard plans for the future. At UCLH, work on London Cancer’s three areas of focus will continue. Particular emphasis will be placed on working collaboratively with primary care and commissioners and developing IT systems and information governance processes that lend themselves to partnership working for the benefit of patients.
Speaking after the event Professor Kathy Pritchard Jones said: “It was great to share the progress we’ve made over the last year and hear how this has positively impacted patients. It’s an exciting time for London Cancer and we’re excited about driving forward our work as part of the UCLH cancer collaborative”