A new ’national cancer plan’ is being drawn up, Health Minister David Ashford has confirmed.

The current national cancer plan is due for renewal in 2022, but the minister said they wanted a better one in place as part of the reorganisation of health service deliver currently taking place.

Mr Ashford said: ’Being frank, one of the issues with this (original) plan was there was not developed, at the time, a detailed implementation plan, including outcomes and timescales.

’So while there has been progress in key areas it is very hard to benchmark and report on what appears to have been an aspirational plan.’

He added: ’Rather than divert much-needed resource into reviewing the current plan, it has been agreed as part of the transformation programme, a cancer strategy will be developed, which makes perfect sense, particularly as it is due for renewal in 2022.

’This is being led by Public Health and closely involves the Macmillan project team.’

Julie Edge (Onchan) asked in which areas there had been progress.

The minister said they included the way in which the health department dealt with cancer services, including children and young people, plus the government’s engagement with the third sector.

Additionally, he said, the island engaged with the North West Cancer Intelligence Service.

Responding to a further question from Ms Edge, Mr Ashford said the Somerset Cancer Register, a software application that tracks a cancer patient’s journey from the point of referral was in place.

The register, which would remain in use following the health service changes, was predominantly used by co-ordinators to input patient data, he said.

’By using the Somerset Cancer Register, our cancer MDT (multi-disciplinary team) co-ordinator can oversee each cancer patient’s journey and liaise with clinical teams within the department and wider providers to ensure our cancer patients are progressing through their journey in a timely manner wherever possible,’ Mr Ashford said.

But he said there was still more work to do on having the data available quickly.