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There are currently 150 primary care cancer lead clinicians (PCCLs), or their equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, across the UK.
Primary care cancer leads (PCCLs) are clinicians (mainly GPs and nurses) who act as clinical 'champions' for improving cancer services across their local health economy. They aim to ensure the primary care voice is represented within secondary and tertiary care and also at a cancer network level. Their other role is to keep cancer a priority service issue at a local PCT level.
Macmillan has supported PCCLs in England since 2001 through the Macmillan Support Programme (MSP). In 2004 the MSP became UK-wide to support PCCLs (and their equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) in the development and implementation of the evolving NHS primary care cancer strategy. The programme offered PCCLs development opportunities through peer support and project funding and held bi-annual conferences which strengthened national networking opportunities for this emergent clinical community.
The MSP formally concluded in December 2006 as its aims for sustainability had been successfully achieved. The PCCL posts have now become embedded in the PCT and Cancer Network infrastructure and Macmillan is continuing to work with PCCLs through strengthening relationships with the Macmillan community of clinicians and managers.
Thanks to Macmillan's long-term support for clinical leadership in primary care, PCTs with a primary care cancer lead clinician (PCCL) enjoy free access to the experience of a UK-wide community of clinical leads in the cancer field. Macmillan Cancer Support is keen to continue strong relationships with primary care and has invited applications from PCCLs to become more formally affiliated with Macmillan Cancer Support through our adoption policy. This strengthened relationship between Macmillan and the primary care cancer lead community would enable us to work better together to support implementation of national strategies and policy frameworks for cancer and palliative care, improving the experiences of people living with cancer. Macmillan has written separately to all PCCLs inviting applications [PDF, 44kb]| and has also written a joint letter with the Department of Health to all PCT Chief Executives [PDF,60kb]| , which was included in the 12 March 2009 Chief Executive bulletin 'the week' from David Nicholson, which provides need-to-know news, consultations and events for chief executives and their teams. It provides links to more information and resources, highlighting areas for action.
If you would like further information please contact Heather Stephens by email at heather@innove.info| . Heather can provide you with information on all aspects of the PCCL role and signpost you to other resources including helping you make connections with other PCCLs. All PCCL clinicians are asked to provide the coordinators above with a current email address in order to provide the monthly updates.
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