Major new research study on the impact of system-wide reorganisation of cancer services

A research team led by Professor Naomi Fulop (UCL Department of Applied Health Research) has been awarded £1.

2 million over three and a half years by the National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research Programme to study the centralisation of specialist cancer surgical services.

The study, starting in September 2015, will focus on the impact of the centralisation of specialist surgical pathways for four cancers across two health care systems: London Cancer (a network of providers across North Central and North East London, and West Essex; population 3.2m) and Manchester Cancer (covering Greater Manchester and East Cheshire; population 3.1m). The research team is formed of clinicians, patients, and academics from London (UCL and London Cancer) and Manchester (University of Manchester and Manchester Cancer).

Professor Fulop commented:

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to study the impact of these major changes to cancer services across two health systems (London Cancer and Manchester Cancer)  as they have the potential to greatly improve the outcomes and experience for many patients."

The research will combine quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse how the centralisations were planned and implemented, and the impact of the changes on organisation and delivery of care, clinical outcomes, patient experience, and cost-effectiveness. The study will also analyse patient, professional, and public preferences for changes of this kind. In doing so, it will address a number of important gaps in the evidence on centralising specialist cancer surgery, addressing key priorities highlighted in the Five Year Forward View. In addition, it will build on methods developed by the team in conducting high impact research on other forms of major system change.

Research team

UCL

Professor Naomi Fulop (Chief Investigator)

Professor Steve Morris

Ms Rachael Hunter

Dr Angus Ramsay

London Cancer

Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones

Mr John Hines

Mr Neil Cameron

University of Manchester

Professor Ruth Boaden

Manchester Cancer

Mr David Shackley

Further information

Naomi Fulop

Angus Ramsay

Andrew Wilshere

NIHR HS&DR project webpage: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hsdr/144619