ABS Statement on the National Cancer Plan for England

The Association of Breast Surgery welcomes the publication of the Government’s National Cancer Plan for England and recognises it as a bold and ambitious strategy. Our core purpose as an association is to ensure that any individual presenting with a breast problem receives the very best possible care. We therefore fully support the aim set out in the plan of putting the patient first. 

However, while the Secretary of State, Wes Streeting, movingly described his own cancer journey and the individuals who shaped his care, the plan itself contains very little recognition of the workforce responsible for delivering that care, and we look forward to the detail of how these ambitions can be delivered.

We are delighted that pathology has been identified as an area of focus, alongside diagnostic capabilities. The aim of identifying cancer early to reduce the stress to the patient in terns of treatment required to cure, is imperative to improving cancer care. The National Breast Screening programme has seen a reduction in attendance over recent years and so the focus on early diagnosis is timely and vital.

NICE has improved the speed of approval rates for new drugs but there is limited financial support to deliver those drugs. This has resulted in a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing oncology care. Although addressing the inequities in cancer care is a stated aim of the plan, cancer alliances will require financial support to address issues at Trust level. 

As a group of clinicians, we fully support the harnessing of innovation to improve the delivery of care. Meaningful change also requires peer review, with clinicians able to share problems and solutions, but there is no mechanism for this to happen. Implementation of this ambitious plan needs to engage with those delivering the care to maximise the potential for improvement, with careful quality assurance.

We look forward to working with Government and partners to harness innovations to better support the clinical teams delivering breast cancer care so that they have more time with patients. We also acknowledge the ambitions of the plan to reduce the burden of cancer care on patients through early detection.