Report of the Manchester Cancer Commissioning Manager, MHCC, Director of Population Health, MHCC, Director of Performance and Quality Improvement, MHCC 

This paper describes the current overview of cancer services across Manchester, including commissioning arrangements, and outlines the proposed Cancer Improvement Programme for Manchester Health and Care Commissioning (MHCC).  The paper also highlights those workstreams contributing to the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan requirements and the recommended priority areas for 2019/20 and 2020/21.

The Committee considered the report of the Manchester Cancer Commissioning Manager, MHCC, Director of Population Health, MHCC and Director of Performance and Quality Improvement, MHCC that described the current overview of cancer services across Manchester, including commissioning arrangements, and outlined the proposed Cancer Improvement Programme for MHCC.

The Macmillan Cancer Commissioning Manager referred to the main points of the report which were: -

·                Providing a comprehensive overview of cancer programmes and services in Manchester;

·                Data on the rates of cancer, social determinants of health, screening, referral and diagnosis and waiting times;

·                Cancer Programmes and Initiatives in Manchester;

·                Highlighting those workstreams contributing to the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan and Operational Planning Guidance requirements;

·                Clarifying MHCC role in delivery of each workstream;

·                Indicating the resources required to deliver each workstream;

·                Highlighting the likely financial implications for each workstream;

·                Providing an indication of priority across the cancer commissioning agenda; and

·                Recommending the priority areas for 2019/20 and 2020/21.

A Member commented upon the detection rates of cancer in younger patients, especially in relation to bowel cancer and asked what was being done to address this. The Macmillan Cancer Commissioning Manager acknowledged this comment and stated that work was underway to promote bowel cancer screening and that a new, more efficient test was being rolled out.

A Member commented on the link between deprivation and rates of cancer.  The Macmillan Cancer Commissioning Manager acknowledged this comment and made reference to the success of the Lung Health checks that had been delivered in neighbourhoods, noting that these had resulted in a significant uptake and in number of detections and referrals for follow up assessment and treatment.

In response to a question regarding workforce issues the Macmillan Cancer Commissioning Manager stated that this was a national issue and work was underway at a GM level to address this.

A Member expressed concern regarding the reported complex commissioning arrangements that were referred to as a potential risk to the provision of integrated, timely and appropriate services for the Manchester population.  The Macmillan Cancer Commissioning Manager described that this was being looked at at a GM level with the ambition to rationalise this across GM.

In response to a Members question regarding the reported increase in the number of all suspected cancer referrals in Manchester, Dr Colligan informed the Committee that this was as a result of revised NICE guidance which had resulted in the lowering of the threshold for referrals, adding that this should be viewed as a positive development.

Dr Colligan further advised the Committee in response to a question from the Chair that information and training that was available to GPs had been improved to help improve their knowledge and awareness of cancer. He further described that a National Cancer Audit was undertaken across all GP practices in Manchester so that all new diagnosis were reported back to the home Practice so that a review and learning could be undertaken. He further described that he had been practicing as a GP in North Manchester for a number of years and he had witnessed a vast improvement in the service provided to cancer patients in the area, especially in relation to the provision of end of life palliative care.

A Member commented that he welcomed the HPV vaccination programme and the extension of this to include boys aged between 12 and 13 years of age, noting the reported benefits this had in preventing a number of cancers. He stated that this needed to be extended to all males aged 13-18 to ensure that there was not a cohort of males that were not protected by the vaccination programme. The Director of Population Health stated that he shared this concern and this would be relayed to NHS England.

Decision

To note the report.