PATIENTS with cancer in Alton, Basingstoke and other parts of North Hampshire are being diagnosed more quickly and living longer as a result of the efforts of their GPs.

Family doctors who are members of North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have been nationally recognised for their achievements in improving diagnosis of cancer patients and delivering an increase in the percentage of patients surviving more than a year after diagnosis.

Dr Charlotte Hutchings, North Hampshire CCG’s clinical lead for cancer, was among NHS leaders invited to the Houses of Parliament last week to attend the ‘One year cancer survival rates – recognising progress’ event, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer.

She explained: “Our CCG has been rated as one of the top 20 CCGs in the country for improving timely cancer diagnosis and the percentage of patients surviving at least a year after receiving a diagnosis of cancer.

“There is strong evidence that the earlier we can diagnose and begin treating cancer, the better chance a patient has of surviving.”

The most recent figures available show that in 2012, 69.6 per cent of local patients diagnosed with cancer survived for at least a year after diagnosis. For patients diagnosed in 2013, that figure rose to 70.8 per cent

Dr Hutchings added: “This is good news for our patients, and it’s the result of the efforts of my GP colleagues across our areas as well as our fellow clinicians providing cancer care at Basingstoke Hospital and elsewhere.

“We have worked hard to raise awareness, we have introduced new electronic systems which support GPs in identifying possible symptoms of cancer and make it easier for them to refer patients more quickly and we have built stronger working relationships with hospital-based consultants.

“We have also been helped by growing public awareness of the difference an early diagnosis can make and an increasing willingness by patients to seek medical advice earlier.

“We will never be complacent, and we will continue to strive to deliver even greater improvements in the future – but this is good news for patients across North Hampshire, and it shows what can be achieved when we work together across the health system to improve the quality of care we provide.”

Dr Lara Alloway, clinical director for cancer services at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’m pleased to congratulate our partners North Hampshire CCG on being in the top 20 CCG’s for improving early cancer diagnosis rates.

“All the teams in cancer services at Hampshire Hospitals have worked very hard to improve the experience for cancer patients, and that includes consistently meeting the targets for waiting times and improving the outcomes for cancer patients.

“This has of course been a partnership with local GPs’ efforts to get patients diagnosed.”

• North Hampshire CCG has 19 member GP practices, caring for a population of around 220,000, from Tadley in the north to Alton in the south, Overton in the west and Bentley village in the east.