MP: Outcome Measures increase survival rates
In 2021/22, John Baron MP spearheaded a successful amendment to health legislation to encourage the NHS to focus on cancer outcomes, such as one-year survival rates, rather than process targets, such as waiting time targets. His amendment was supported by 80 MPs of all parties, and also received good support in the House of Lords. The Government accepted the amendment, which is now Clause 5 of the Health & Care Act 2022. An article explaining the amendment in more detail is online here (https://conservativehome.com/2022/12/09/john-baron/).
In the Chamber, John asked,
“Many on these benches are pleased Clause 5 is being implemented, but would urge the Government when consulting on the NHS Mandate to ensure that the focus on outcomes, such as one-year survival rates to encourage earlier diagnosis, is not watered down in favour of softer objectives such as patient experience surveys and the like – patients may not be aware of how badly the NHS compares to international survival rates, as the recent research from the King’s Fund once again makes clear.”
The Cancer Minister, Helen Whately MP, congratulated John on his commitment to cancer outcomes, and agreed that the best way of improving outcomes is to catch cancers early by focusing on both outcome measures such as one-year survival rates, as well as patient experience surveys and process targets.
John said afterwards,
“It is good news that Clause 5 is being implemented and to hear from the Minister of the Government’s commitment to diagnose cancers earlier. However, I was concerned to hear her refer to process targets, as the proliferation of these in recent decades has drawn attention away from outcome measures, such as one-year survival rates.”
“The Government once estimated we could save an additional 10,000 lives each year if we matched the best survival rates in Europe – this is the scale of the challenge the NHS must rise to.”
