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Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change
National Implementation/Investment Plan 2002-03
FOREWORD
Implementation of Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change remains at the forefront of the Scottish Executive's cancer strategy. At its launch in July 2001 the Executive committed to publishing annual investment plans so that everyone involved - patients, the public, NHSScotland staff - all had an opportunity to see how the Executive's additional funding for cancer services was being targeted to bring about the changes needed , changes aimed at reducing waiting times, improving services generally and particularly at improving patients' experiences of the care they receive.
Plans for the financial year 2001-02 were published in November 2001. Now we are able to present the plans brought forward by the three Regional Cancer Advisory Groups for the year 2002-03.
In February this year the Minister for Health and Community Care made available a further 10m over and above the 40m previously committed for implementation of the strategy up until the end of 2003-04. 2m of this further additional investment was to be targeted in the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow and details of the specific plans to direct this money are therefore included in these annual investment plans.
We have said before that money alone will never be the solution to improving cancer services in Scotland. We have said we need a partnership of common interests working together to ensure that the expertise, talent, commitment, energy and resources we have in Scotland are organised to get the best results for patients.
These plans and the other work going on to reshape Scotland's cancer services for the future are ample evidence of that partnership - a partnership forged through the Regional Cancer Advisory Groups and clinical networks and through the Scottish Cancer Group; a partnership involving not only the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers and other clinical staff, managers and administrative staff but also, importantly, patients. Together we have achieved a great deal since last July. Together we will maintain the momentum for change.
I commend these plans to you.
Anna Gregor
Lead Clinician for Cancer Services in Scotland
23 May 2002
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