Expert panel : evaluation of the Government’s commitments in the area of cancer services in England

An evaluation by a panel of experts has rated Government progress as ‘inadequate’ against commitments made to improve cancer services. It is the first time that the independent Expert Panel, appointed by the Health and Social Care Committee, has given an overall rating of inadequate to Government commitments it has evaluated.

The Health and Social Care Committee asked the Expert Panel to evaluate progress against pledges made by Ministers across a range of policy areas - workforce, diagnostics, living well with and beyond cancer, and technology and innovation with CQC-style ratings against five specific commitments. The work of the Expert Panel was conducted alongside an inquiry by the Committee into cancer services with its report to be published next week.

The Expert Panel acknowledges that while some progress has been made in areas such as investment in diagnostics and innovative technologies and treatments, the lack of adequate long-term planning for, and investment in, the cancer workforce undermined progress made and justified the inadequate rating.