The CSC Improvement Partnership programme works by providing national funding to support a small team of service improvement facilitators for each cancer network. These facilitators work with clinical teams throughout their cancer network to examine, in detail, the way services are delivered and test ways of making improvements on a small scale before introducing widespread change.

• Provide certainty and choice for patients across the process of care (booked appointments at key stages)
• Pre-plan and pre-schedule care at times to suit the patient (co-ordination)
• Reduce unnecessary delays and restrictions on access (improve access through capacity and demand planning to meet national Cancer Plan targets)
• Improve patient and carer experience by providing a personalised consistent service
• Provide the best care, in the best place, by the best team (clinical effectiveness)

• Reduce the number of days between referral and first definitive treatment for all patients
• Increase the % of patients with pre-booked appointments at key stages in the patient's care
• Increase the % of patients reviewed by a recognised multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
• Improve the patient and carer experience

The programme was launched in Lancashire and South Cumbria in April 2001. Phase III of the programme, the Improvement Partnership, was launched on 1 April 2003 for a period of 3 years. This new phase supports the local achievement of Cancer Plan targets by service redesign and as part of local modernisation teams. The programme is headed locally by a Service Improvement Lead (SIL) and Deputy Service Improvement Lead who manage a team of Service Improvement Facilitators (SIFs) and supporting staff at Network level.

A local work-plan identifying expectations of the SIF post and the local clinical teams is being continually updated and adapted as new local priorities emerge. The CSCIP work programme for each facilitator for the year has now been agreed, within each Health Economy, to reflect the Cancer Plan targets and local LDP priorities.

The emphasis now has shifted to cover all cancers and include greater cross tumour working. This work, particularly in the diagnostic services of radiology and endoscopy is being linked to national work-streams in order to encourage greater involvement from clinical teams, led by the Royal Colleges, and to prevent duplication of effort locally.

A New Service Improvement Fund has been made available to fund the implementation of some changes such as front line posts, clearing backlogs, new equipment that will further reduce waiting times, improve certainty and choice, improve patient experience and help to achieve referral to treatment times in the NHS Cancer Plan. Funding for Lancashire and South Cumbria is £251,000 per annum 2003/2004-2005/2006.

Support for cancer modernisation through the Cancer Network

The Cancer Network provides support to local Health Economies in the delivery of their improvement plans by:

• Developing local capability in modernisation, providing support, training and development for SIFs. This will be through regular workshops, local learning events and the competency framework to ensure credibility of postholders.
• In conjunction with the Modernisation Agency and using a web based reporting tool (WILS), providing comprehensive knowledge management and learning for dissemination, collating the evidence, best practice and impact of modernisation.
• Communication - providing access to clinical and managerial support for all tumours and cross tumours both nationally and locally in tumour groups, management forums and the Strategic Cancer Network Board.
• Helping to make the links to other modernisation initiatives in cross tumour issues such as primary care, palliative and supportive care, radiology, endoscopy, pathology, as well as to the Cumbria & Lancashire Health Authority and Workforce Development Confederation.

Service Improvement Facilitators shown by geographical area...

Victoria Allen Central Lancashire	Karen Kyle Morecambe Bay
Darren Hargreaves East Lancashire	Caroline Waddington

Kathryn Rogerson Fylde Coast

The team are based at:
Room 213
Preston Business Centre
Watling Street Road
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 8DY

Tel 01772 647041
Fax 01772 220291

For further details about the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Services Collaborative Improvement Partnership contact Joan Jackson, Cancer Network Director.

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