“However, we fully recognise that further progress is required in a number of areas. This report rightly highlights the importance of ensuring more consistent value for money from cancer service providers.  

“In response to the national strategy, NHS organisations have invested significant additional resources in cancer services in recent years. This has led to improved cancer survival rates, increased inpatients treated with chemotherapy, more efficient use of inpatient resources and shorter waiting times for diagnosis.

PCTs hampered

“PCTs have often been hampered in achieving good value for money by inconsistent national data sets, the quality of coding, and cumbersome payment systems. It is vital that these national problems are recognised by the Department of Health. The Government needs to understand and act on what is holding back local organisations."

Read the report

Read more about the report on the National Audit Office (NAO) website