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Charity slams NICE cancer recommendations

Charity slams NICE cancer recommendations
2 August 2013



CCGs should aim to measure the number of people with cancer who are diagnosed at A&E, NICE has suggested, but a leading charity warns this would not go far enough. 
Around 25% of people with cancer are diagnosed through emergency care. NICE believes that with more data CCGs could find ways to visit relevant clinics earlier, improving chances of survival. 
The guidance, presented to NHS England, could form part of the Clinical Commissioning Groups Outcomes Indicator Set (CCGOIS) for 2014/15. 

CCGs should aim to measure the number of people with cancer who are diagnosed at A&E, NICE has suggested, but a leading charity warns this would not go far enough. 
Around 25% of people with cancer are diagnosed through emergency care. NICE believes that with more data CCGs could find ways to visit relevant clinics earlier, improving chances of survival. 
The guidance, presented to NHS England, could form part of the Clinical Commissioning Groups Outcomes Indicator Set (CCGOIS) for 2014/15. 
NICE also suggests more could be done to reduce smoking rates among people with serious mental illness. 
Professor Gillian Leng, NICE deputy chief executive said: “These potential indicators will encourage high quality commissioning of NHS services in England and lead to better healthcare for patients. 
“By setting out the aspects of care that are essential in enabling the best health outcomes, the quality of care being commissioned for local people can be measured.” 
However, cancer charity Macmillan believes NICE’s recommendations do not go far enough. 
Head of policy at Macmillan, Duleep Allirajah said: “We are very disappointed that recommendations for the Clinical Commissioning Group Outcome Indicator Set, which holds Clinical Commissioning Groups in England accountable for patients’ health outcomes, do not include measures on cancer patients’ experience of care, or their choice at the end of life.

“These significant gaps mean that commissioners will not be held to account for improving services for cancer patients in these fundamental areas, yet we know that having a good experience of care or receiving support to die at home, are both hugely important to cancer patients.” 
A full list of proposed recommendations are available on the NICE website
NHS England will reveal the final CCGOIS in autumn 2013. 

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