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
Professor John Frank
Director, Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy
(sponsored by the Scottish Cancer Foundation)
10:50
Refreshment Break
11:15
Discussion Groups (choice of eight Discussion Groups)
Topic 1: Health messages – turning knowledge into action
Most of us know what lifestyle changes we should make to reduce our risk of cancer and many other conditions. Messages about healthy eating, physical activity, giving up smoking, moderate alcohol consumption and sun awareness are communicated to the public by Government and many other health organisations. What needs to be done to ensure people can turn these messages into actions and really improve their health and wellbeing?
Topic 2: Appraising treatments
The debate about how cancer treatments are appraised for use on the NHS continues to dominate the media. Issues such as top-ups and exceptional prescribing prompt high profile campaigns, and with the development of more targeted and expensive treatments, this looks set to stay on the political agenda for some time to come. What should Government be doing to address the issue?
Topic 3: Living with and beyond cancer
One of our biggest challenges is how we support those living with and beyond cancer. This growing population, often with complex medical, social, emotional and financial issues to deal with, may benefit from new models of self management, but what more needs to be done? How can we encourage the various agencies involved to work together better?
Topic 4: Diagnosing cancer earlier
Improvements have been made to waiting times for treatment, but many patients still have a long delay between the onset of symptoms and referral for investigation. This can be due to a reluctance to present to a GP, or delays in GPs recognising symptoms or referring patients on. We know that this delay can often prove detrimental to a patient’s prognosis. What can we do to improve this situation?
Topic 5: Reducing cancer inequalities
Huge inequalities still exist in Scotland in terms of cancer incidence and survival, and access to treatment, care and support services, with people in lower socio-economic groups, ethnic minorities and those with physical or mental disabilities often worst affected. How can we work successfully with these groups to reduce inequalities and make sure that treatment and care is provided equitably to all?
Topic 6: Appropriate care
Those with less common cancers, and groups such as children and young people often require specialist treatment and care, but this isn’t always available. While there have been commitments to improving this situation, the necessary services are often costly and may only be relevant to a small number of people. How can we ensure that the needs of these patients are best catered for?
Topic 7: Measuring quality and improving outcomes
Treatment and care should always be of the highest possible quality and we need quality measures and indicators to tell us if this is the case. While waiting times have been high profile, other areas, such as the patient experience, are only now coming to the fore. We also need to know whether we are improving patient outcomes. What should we be measuring, and how should we go about it?
Topic 8: Innovation and improvement
We all want to see better and more effective treatments available that will give cancer patients better outcomes and fewer side effects. Investment in research is crucial in order to develop new and improved treatments. What needs to happen to better support cancer research in Scotland and to ensure that the improvements delivered are then made available for patients?
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.
  • Professor Karen Vousden
    Director, Beatson Institute
  • Dr Bill O’Neill
    GP and Chair of the Scottish Primary Care Cancer Group
  • Kevin Geddes
    Director of Self Management, Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland
  • Dr Aileen Keel
    Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Chair of the Scottish Cancer Taskforce
16:10
Closing Remarks
Nanette Milne MSP
Co-convener, Cross Party Group on Cancer
16:30
Close of Conference

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