What is the Yorkshire Cancer Network?

The Yorkshire Cancer Network was established in 1996 to support and promote the implementation of improvements in cancer care within the West and North Yorkshire areas covered by the network and developing strategies to deliver the NHS Cancer Plan that enables local flexibility and work out the most effective way to tackle problems within the Network area.

The aim of the Yorkshire Cancer Network is to minimise the incidence of cancer while maximising the survival opportunities of cancer patients and enhance the quality of life for all patients and their carers at any point within the cancer journey. An anticipated outcome will be to improve the patient experience/care process of cancer services throughout the network and to achieve equal service delivery in all areas adapted to local needs.

Cancer Networks are the organisational model for cancer services to implement the Cancer Plan with responsibility to develop an annual Strategic Service Delivery Plan, which is underpinned by workforce, education & training and facilities strategies. The objectives of the Network are to ensure that all commissioners and providers of cancer care, the voluntary sector and local authorities within the network work effectively together to deliver high quality care.

The Network covers a population of approximately 2.6 million within the Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority

What are Cancer Networks?

The Expert Advisory Group on Cancer was set up in 1993 and issued the Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services in 1995 (Calman Hine). The Framework introduced the need to develop Cancer Networks reaching from Primary Care through Cancer Units and Cancer Centres to monitor the effectiveness of the changes resulting from the recommendations in improving patient care.

In September 2000 The NHS Cancer Plan was published and within the plan the Cancer Network responsibilities were identified. The Manual of Cancer Services Standards published in April 2001 outlined the structure of the Networks. Improving Outcomes Guidance identifies MDT requirements and the MDT is a significant part of the Manual of Cancer Services Standards approach. There are 34 Cancer Networks covering the whole of England.

The NHS Cancer Plan : Three year progress report Maintaining the momentum

In October 2003 the Department of Health published a report highlighting the progress made in implementing the NHS Cancer Plan. The full report can be accessed through this link

Which NHS organisationsnare associated with the Network?

Following the recent reorganisation of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) there are now 6 PCTs and 7 Hospital Trusts within the Network.

These are:

Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT

Calderdale PCT

Kirklees PCT

Leeds PCT

North Yorkshire and York PCT

Wakefield District PCT


The following Hospital Trusts provide Cancer Unit services:

Airedale NHS Trust

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

York Hospitals NHS Trust


Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides both local services for the people of Leeds and is the Cancer Centre for the Yorkshire Cancer Network providing specialist cancer services.