National Assembly for Wales

Health and Social Services Committee

Review of Cancer Services for the People of Wales

Name of respondent:

Jonathon Gray

Are you responding on behalf of an organisation?

YES

If so please give the name

Wales Centre for Health

Address:

14 Cathedral Road,
Cardiff,
CF11 9LJ

Telephone number:

(029) 2022 7744

Would you be willing to give oral evidence to the Committee?

YES

If the evidence you give below is your personal view, rather then that of an organisation, please state whether or not you are willing for your evidence to be published by putting a X in the appropriate box below:

I am content for my evidence to be published

I am not content for my evidence to be published

1	How can information technology be used more effectively to track and facilitate the patient’s journey?
Response	We need a common data set for all cancer patients and families across Wales. Too often episodes of care are recorded in separate databases. This should include cancer genetic information.
2	How effectively is research and good practice being integrated with service delivery? What can be done and by whom to improve this?
Response	Moderately well. There is a clear need to increase the recognition of Cancer Genetics (provided through all Wales Medical Genetics Service) as a conduit for research in the critical area of genetics to the patient/family.
3	What are your views on the complexity of commissioning services? Is the process hampered by the involvement of the local health boards, cancer networks and Health Commission Wales? How could it simplified?
Response	Currently too complex. We should use the networks to commission on a regional level.
4	What evidence is there of the value of screening and immunisation?
Response	Screening is critical. Cancer genetics can identify many at risk - and we can build on the successful breast cancer screening collaboration to effectively detect other cancers in at-risk people.
5	What are the barriers to the NHS in Wales keeping abreast of, and responding to, developing technologies and therapies? How might these barriers be overcome?
Response	Fragmented commissioning - resolve by using the networks.
6	How can the NHS and the voluntary sector work together more effectively to deliver services?
Response
7	How can the collection and use of data on where the terminally ill spend their last weeks or months be improved better to inform service provision for those people?
Response	We have piloted, but would ask for more work on addressing family history of cancer in terminally ill so that screening can be put in place for surviving family.
8	There are a number of issues around prescribing and the cost of drugs:
8(i)	What should be done and by whom to reduce continued prescribing of inappropriate drugs?
Response
8(ii)	Should people who are prepared to pay privately for drugs not available to them on the NHS, be able to do so without having to become private patients and having to pay for all their treatment?
Response
8(iii)	Do doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals have adequate access to independent advice and guidance on the prescribing of drugs?
Response
9	Are services centred on the patient, with service users consulted? If not what are the reasons for this and how patient involvement be improved?
Response	There have been good attempts through the networks but I would suggest more coordinated approach with charities in developing agendas for services.