Agenda

09:00
Registration and Refreshments
09:30
Introduction
Malcolm Chisholm MSP
Co-convener, Cross Party Group on Cancer
09:40
Health Secretary Address and Questions
Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
10:20
Keynote Address
Putting it all together – Antidotes to fragmentation in policy and practice
Professor Graham Watt
Professor of General Practice, University of Glasgow
(sponsored by Scottish Cancer Foundation)
10:50
Refreshment Break
11:15
Discussion Groups
Topic 1: Making lifestyle change a reality
Traditional awareness raising campaigns have focused on informing people about the risk factors for cancer to make them change their behaviour.  We know that this isn’t always successful.  How can we make campaigns more empowering and really encourage people to make changes which will reduce their risk of developing cancer?
Topic 2: Diagnosing cancer earlier
We know that late diagnosis can reduce treatment options for patients, and result in worse outcomes.  Why does late diagnosis occur? What more do we need to do to encourage people to present their symptoms to a GP?  And how can we ensure that referral and diagnosis is happening as swiftly as possible?
Topic 3: Access to treatment
With a recent parliamentary inquiry and high profile cases of people trying to negotiate the systems of access to cancer treatment, what more can we do to ensure that the right treatments are reaching the right patients? What do we mean when we say a patient is ‘exceptional’?  And how can we balance equity with personalised treatment?
Topic 4: Valuing patient experience
The importance of using the experiences of patients to inform and drive service improvements in the NHS is now being recognised, and the Better Together programme is currently developing work in this area.  How can we best capture the experience of patients, and how do we make sure that this information is acted upon?
Topic 5: Do we provide equitable services for those with rarer cancers?
Having a rarer cancer can affect your treatment and care – GPs are less likely to be familiar with unusual symptoms, treatments may be seen as too expensive to be made available on the NHS, and you’re unlikely to have access to a specialist nurse.  What impact does this have on patients with rarer cancers, and what can we do to improve the situation?
Topic 6: World class research
Scotland is rightly seen as a world leader in medical research.  But we can’t be complacent about this.  How can we ensure that high quality cancer research continues to take place in Scotland?  What barriers currently exist and what more needs to be done to protect and promote Scotland as a science nation?
Topic 7: From bench to bedside
Despite high quality cancer research taking place in Scotland, there can be a delay in translating these benefits into the clinic.  How can we ensure that new and improved treatments and techniques developed in Scotland are swiftly available to benefit patients?  What are the barriers here, and how can we overcome them?
Topic 8: Living with and beyond cancer
With growing numbers of people surviving cancer, we need to develop a clear strategy for supporting their medical, social, emotional and financial needs.  What would make a real difference to people’s lives? How can we bring together all the stakeholders involved in this to avoid gaps and duplication?  And what can we learn from other parts of the UK, and further afield, in this area?
12:30
Lunch
13:30
Discussion Groups
(choice of eight Discussion Groups, repeated from morning)
14:45
Refreshment Break
15:10
Panel Discussion and Questions
The panel is made up of experts from across the cancer field who will take questions from the floor and discuss issues raised during previous sessions.
  • Dr John Davies
    Consultant Haematologist, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
    Clinical Director of SCAN
  • Professor Bob Steele
    Professor of Surgery, University of Dundee;
    Director, Scottish Colorectal Screening Cancer Programme;
    Director, Scottish Cancer Foundation
  • Dr Gill Hubbard
    Co-Director, Cancer Care Research Centre, University of Stirling
  • Ann Muir
    Patient Representative, WoSCAN
16:10
Closing Remarks
Nanette Milne MSP
Co-convener, Cross Party Group on Cancer
16:30
Close of Conference

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