Macmillan Cancer Relief launches new programme to support primary care cancer leads
Macmillan Cancer Relief launches new programme to support primary care cancer leadsKeywords:Primary care, Department of Health, Patient grants, Patient care
A support programme to underpin the role of the newly created English primary care cancer lead clinicians was launched in November by Macmillan Cancer Relief.
Cancer lead clinicians are being putin post in every Primary Care Organisation (PCO) across England through a three-year partnership between Macmillan and the Department of Health, announced in March 2001. To date, 279 cancer leads have been nominated, covering 298 PCOs. There will be around 300 cancer leads in total. The purpose of the cancer lead role is to provide strategic leadership in developing cancer services within the PCO, to contribute to the development of cancer networks, and to represent the PCO and primary care generally within the networks. The posts are being filled mostly by GPs, but other primary care clinicians have been appointed, including nurses, pharmacists and occupational therapists. Macmillan post-holders are among the appointments.
Macmillan's support programme will provide a range of resources, so that the cancer leads can carry out their role effectively. Individual and group learning opportunities will be combined with access to specialist topic-based materials,a telephone helpline and dedicated Web site. A welcome pack has been sent out to all newly appointed leads, providing them with a framework of activity for the first three months in post. The programme has been developed through workshops and in conjunction with the cancer networks in West London, Arden and Merseyside/Cheshire.
Dame Gill Oliver, Macmillan's Director of Service Development, said:
The support programme has been developed using Macmillan's expertise gained in the creation of other innovative specialist cancer posts, particularly in primary care. The newly-appointed leads come with widely varying experience of cancer services and of working at a strategic level. The support programme will provide a baseline to ensure consistency across the board. Macmillan's ultimate goal is to improve services for everyone affected by cancer.
Macmillan is working in partnership with the Department of Health in the development of a number of other initiatives announced in the NHS Cancer Plan,including palliative care training for community-based nurses, review of out-of-hours palliative care services, a model for genetics screening services and projects tackling inequalities in cancer care.
The Charity funds specialist nurses and doctors, buildings for treatment and care, information services and patient grants for those in financial difficulties. Through its new Community Links programme, Macmillan is working directly to support people affected by cancer, providing resources and consultancy for self-help and support groups, and, through the CancerVOICES project, giving patients and carers a say in the development of cancer services in the future.
