November 2023
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference discussed next steps for cancer care and provision in Wales.
It was an opportunity to examine the Cancer Improvement Plan for NHS Wales 2023-2026 in the context of data, published by the Welsh Government, revealing that cancer waiting times in Wales are the worst they have ever been.
Stakeholders, clinical leaders and policymakers looked at key issues for improving the experience of service users in Wales.
They also considered priorities for training and recruitment to fill gaps in staffing, strategies for improving workforce retention amidst increased demand for services, and ensuring safe staffing levels in Welsh cancer services.
Further sessions focused on next steps for enabling early interventions, screenings and diagnosis, as well as improving referral times and addressing barriers to care.
Delegates also discussed implementation of digital technologies to cancer services in Wales, and identifying areas for further research and funding to improve services.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Dr Lee Campbell, Head of Research, Cancer Research Wales; Professor Tom Crosby, National Cancer Clinical Director for Wales, NHS Wales; and Dr Owen Nicholas, Chair, Standing Welsh Committee, The Royal College of Radiologists.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- policy: assessing the current landscape for cancer care and waiting times in Wales - implementation of the Cancer Improvement Plan going forward - priorities for future funding of cancer services
- workforce: addressing staff retention - improving staff support systems - priorities for recruitment and training to ensure safe staffing levels to meet increased demand for care
- enabling quality care: improving screening - progress of Rapid Diagnosis Clinics - tackling variation in service quality - next steps for prevention strategies
- inequalities: key barriers to care and how they can be addressed - tackling variation in service quality - identifying and supporting groups with increased need
- research and innovation: priorities for new approaches to treatment and diagnosis - funding and investment - implementation of digital services - developing genomic services in Wales
- long-term vision: the future outlook for cancer care, waiting times and patient outcomes - improving collaboration within the sector - knowledge transfer - priorities for policy
