The UCLH Cancer Collaborative is part of the national Cancer Vanguard, working with RM Partners (north west and south west London) and Vanguard Innovation (Greater Manchester). Together we serve a population of over 10 million and we are working to change the way cancer care is provided. The Cancer Vanguard is focused on accelerating the delivery of the key outcomes from the National Cancer Strategy.

There are four pillars to the UCLH Cancer Collaborative:

• Earlier diagnosis – developing new ways of diagnosing cancer
• Centre for Cancer Outcomes – compiling and publishing data on cancer outcomes
• London Cancer pathway boards and Macmillan Integrated Cancer Programme (MICa) – working with local health professionals and patients to improve quality
• New care models – developing new pathways for delivering chemotherapy

In January 2015, NHS England invited individual NHS organisations and partnerships to apply to become vanguard sites as part of the new care models programme designed to improve patient care and services, as set out in the Five Year Forward Review. The vanguard programme challenges the NHS to redesign health and care services through linking together local systems, reducing variation and improving efficiency.

The vanguards will take the lead on the development of ‘game-changing care models’. The aim is that the work of vanguards will inspire the whole health and care system and spread best practice and new innovations, thus improving the care received by millions across the country.

The short video below has been produced by NHS Providers to explain the purpose and aims of the vanguards.