Specialised services commissioning: area B cancer and blood

Overview

As Chair of the Cancer and Blood Programme of Care (PoC), I have oversight across all the Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs) within the programme to ensure linkages are maintained where appropriate and to enable consistency in the approach to development of the commissioning products.

The CRGs are made up of voluntary clinical, public health and commissioning staff with representation from key patients and public stakeholders. Together the members have reviewed the national definition of specialised services and taken into account changes in policy that might effect the definitions. In cancer, for example, recent changes have meant that services not previously designated as specialised are now commissioned on a large population basis and hence are now eligible for consideration in the new structure and single operating model for directly commissioned services.

This unique work represents the first comprehensive national set of service specifications. These specifications will form the basis of contracting for services and as such should lead to better consistency and reduced variations in care across the country.

Sean Duffy

Chair, Cancer and Blood Programme of Care

Director and Medical Director of the Yorkshire Cancer Network 

Why your views matter

A range of service specifications and clinical policies for specialised services commissioning have been developed by Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs).

There has already been extensive engagement on these new national specifications and policies, as they have been developed with the support and input of lead clinicians and patient and public representatives. This approach has helped ensure that the views of key stakeholders have informed and influenced the policies and specifications.

We now want to test them further with more stakeholders to ensure all needs and considerations have been taken into account.

What happens next

This consultation is now closed.

Thank you for your feedback. The NHS CB is working through your comments and will publish a full response on this website in spring 2013.

Please note that the consultation on the specialised service specifications and policy published on 11 January will continue to be open until 22 February 2013 and can be accessed here.