Health Department
Directorate of Planning and Performance
Management

Dear Colleague

CANCER IN SCOTLAND: ACTION FOR CHANGE: Regional Cancer Advisory Groups (RCAGs)

Further guidance on the structure and functions of Regional Cancer Advisory Groups was promised in Chapter 9 of Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change and in HDL (2001) 54.

The attached guidance leaves flexibility to accommodate local needs and ways of working. However, support will be required for RCAGs/MCNs over the next few years as implementation of Cancer in Scotland is taken forward. Some specifics are detailed below.

Action Summary

1. Chief Executives should ensure RCAGs are fully established and supported by end September 2001 including for example, protected clinical time for regional leads, managerial and administrative support.

2. Managed clinical networks for all cancers should be in place by 2002.

3. By April 2002 MCNs to ensure service redesign, particularly for colorectal and lung cancer pathways, but also as required across all cancer services, as an aid to improving patient journey and delivering waiting times/CSBS standards.

4. If not already in place, prospective clinical audit to support QA across all cancer MCNs should be established using nationally agreed datasets. Where already established (e.g. for breast, colorectal, lung and ovarian cancers), audit arrangements should be extended to include all cancer services.

Yours sincerely

13th September 2001

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Addresses

For action
Chief Executives, Health Boards
Chief Executives, NHS Trusts

For information
Chief Executive, CSA
Chief Executive, HEBS
Directors of Public Health
Medical Directors, NHS Trusts
Directors of Nursing Services
Chairs/Lead Clinicians, Regional
Cancer Advisory Groups
Scottish Partnership Forum

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For more copies

John Wilson
Room 3N04
St Andrew's House
Edinburgh
Tel: 0131-244 2346

Enquiries to:

Elizabeth Porterfield
Cancer Services Co-ordinator
Room 2N15
St Andrew's House
EDINBURGH
EH1 3DG elizabeth.porterfield@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: 0131-244 2352
Fax: 0131-244 2989

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Guidance: The structure, functions and working relationships of Regional Cancer Advisory Groups (PDF file, 18 KB)

Annex 1: Scottish cancer networks: performance assessment/monitoring model (PDF file, 6 KB)

Annex 2: systems diagram showing the relationship between SCG and RCAGs (PDF file, 5 KB)

Annex 3: Membership of committee: Scottish Cancer Group (PDF file, 22 KB)

Annex 4: Scottish Cancer Group remit (PDF file, 11 KB)