About Us
Our long-term ambitions are to; reduce variation of treatment, improve cancer outcomes, maintain quality of life by improving patient experience, and reduce inequalities. We do this by working as system leaders in a multi-agency collaborative of providers, commissioners and third sector organisations, working together and in partnership with the public, across the North East & North Cumbria.
Cancer Alliances are non-statutory bodies which bring together clinical and managerial leaders from different hospital Trusts; primary care (including GPs) and other health and social care organisations. In total, there are now 21 Cancer Alliances in England.
In 2019 the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) was published providing a vision for improving cancer outcomes and services in England over the next ten years by setting out key ambitions that include:
- by 2028, 55,000 more people each year will survive their cancer for five years or more; and
- by 2028, 75% of people with cancer will be diagnosed at an early stage (stage one or two).
These ambitions will be delivered in a way that improve quality of life and patient experience outcomes and reduce health inequalities and variation.
The Northern Cancer Alliance covers the North East and North Cumbria geography and is aligned to the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care System (ICS) footprint.
The Northern Cancer Alliance views patients and carers as equal partners in the design and delivery of their care and the vision is founded on the principle of putting the patient at the heart of the redesign of cancer services in every aspect of the cancer journey.
Chair
Mr Andy Welch, Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Directors
Dr Katie Elliott, (Primary Care), Cancer Research UK Strategic GP, Northern Cancer Alliance
Dr Ian Pedley (Secondary Care), Non-Surgical Oncologist, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS FT
Cancer Alliance Managing Director
Mrs Alison Featherstone
Cancer Alliance Head of Programmes
Mr Aaron Tucker