Workforce

The cancer strategy for England states: ‘Health Education England should work with NHS England, charities, and others to develop a vision for the future shape and skills mix of the workforce required to deliver a modern, holistic patient-centred cancer service. This review should consider training needs for both new and existing NHS staff and should report by the end of 2016.'

NHS England and Government have committed to taking forward the recommendations of the cancer strategy. The implementation plan published by the National Cancer Transformation Board states that ‘we will develop a vision by March 2017 for the future shape and skills mix of the workforce required to deliver a modern, holistic patient-centred cancer service, in particular focussing on the workforce needs highlighted in the review.'

In May 2016, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support hosted an engagement event to build consensus across the cancer community on how the review should be taken forward. This consensus document is the result of this event and wider discussions amongst the cancer community.