The Public Accounts Committee reported most recently on cancer services in February 2011. The Committee concluded that the NHS had made significant progress in delivering important aspects of cancer services, with falling mortality rates and consistent achievement of the cancer waiting times targets. A significant increase in resources had contributed to the improvements, but the progress had also been achieved through clear direction and high-profile leadership. However, the Committee was concerned that there remained wide, unexplained variations in performance across the country and significant gaps in information about important aspects of cancer services.
On 11 January 2015, NHS England announced that it had set up a taskforce to develop a five-year action plan for cancer services by summer 2015, with the aim of improving survival rates. On 12 January 2015, NHS England announced changes to the Cancer Drugs Fund following a review of drugs included in the Fund. From April 2015, the budget for the Fund will increase and some of the drugs currently included will no longer be funded. This inquiry will look at progress in improving cancer services and outcomes; at how changes to the health system have affected cancer services and will examine the recently announced action plan and changes to the Cancer Drugs Fund.
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