Department of Health - The NHS Cancer Plan: A Progress Report : HC 343, Session 2004-2005: Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General

Four years into the 10-year life of the NHS Cancer Plan, this report concludes that the Plan is impressive in its coverage and has resulted in better cancer services.

There is still more to be done, however. Substantial progress has been made in meeting the Plan's targets.

However, the thirty-four cancer networks - partnerships of local NHS organisations providing cancer services - are not always as effective as they should be.

Resources are not always sufficient and not all of the networks plan effectively.

The networks need to develop partnership working further if the targets in the Cancer Plan are to be fully met by 2010.

Decisions need to be taken now on how to update and bring together all elements of the current cancer strategy in a unified way that ensures it remains the central guiding approach for improving cancer services and outcomes.