Integrated Care System
The Northern Cancer Alliance combines the experience of clinicians, the input of patients and the organisational vision of NHS staff.
A focus on coordinated effort to transform cancer care locally at a system level has remained a feature of national health care policy for at least the last 20 years. Cancer Alliances were formed in 2016 to support the delivery of the National Cancer Strategy as described in the NHS Long Term Plan. This followed the publication of the Independent Cancer Taskforce Report.
We work together, and in partnership, to transform the diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients in our local area. These partnerships enable care to be more effectively planned and delivered across local cancer pathways – the journey followed by each person who is suspected of having cancer, who then receives a confirmed diagnosis and goes on to receive treatment.
How we fit in the system
The Northern Cancer Alliance covers the North East and North Cumbria. This makes us co-terminous with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS..
North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System
The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) is a partnership of organisations including local councils, voluntary and community services that provide health and care across our region. It also includes the NENC Provider Collaborative, a formal partnership between all 11 NHS Foundation Trusts (FTs) in the region. Our Integrated Care System (ICS) is the largest in the country. It is led by the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) which works collectively, joining up resources and expertise to provide the best health and care for our local communities.
The Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) is a committee of the ICB and the 14 local authorities from across the North East and North Cumbria. It’s a way of working that will see all partners coming together to improve the health of our communities and reduce the health inequalities that exist across the region.
Our stakeholders
We collaborate with a broad network of stakeholders, including local hospital Trusts; local Healthwatch teams, Commissioners, Public Health colleagues; national, regional and local charities like Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK and we have established a network of local voluntary organisations.
The list below is not exhaustive but gives a selection of the organisations we work with:
- NHS England – including the National Cancer Programme
- NENC Provider Collaborative
- NENC ICB
- Primary Care Networks
- NHS Foundation Trusts
- Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) and partner organisations
- Local Authority public health teams
- Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (formerly Academic Health Science Network)
- Research Networks
- Higher education institutes
- Healthwatch