The National Assembly for Wales's Health & Social Care Committee has called for "stronger national leadership" to ensure that the Welsh Government's plan to prevent, detect and treat cancer is delivered to its full potential by 2016.
The Committee found that the "Together for Health: Cancer Delivery Plan for the NHS to 2016" had made improvements in some areas, in particular research, cancer screening and end of life care.
However, some of those diagnosed with cancer related illness told the Committee that their experiences did not always match the aspirations set out in the plan.
"Our report makes recommendations to the Minister, which if accepted and implemented, we believe will assist in the achievement of the plan's aspirations," said Committee Chair, David Rees AM.
"Perhaps the most important of these responds to the concerns we heard that without stronger national leadership there is a risk that the Plan's aspirations will not be realised by 2016.
"On that basis we ask the Minister to ensure that there is a body with a clear remit, and the necessary resources, to provide drive and leadership at a national level, and hold health boards to account for the delivery of their local plans."
The Committee makes 13 recommendations:
1. That the Minister for Health and Social Services ensures that there is a body which has the remit and resources to drive the delivery of the Welsh Government's Cancer Delivery Plan at a national level, hold health boards to account on the delivery of their local plans and undertake strategic forward planning of cancer services.
2. That the Minister for Health and Social Services reminds health boards of the requirement in the Cancer Delivery Plan for them to publish their local cancer delivery plans and annual reports on their websites to enable the public to hold them to account, and asks health boards to make this information prominent and easy to locate.
3. That the Minister for Health and Social Services provides an update to the Committee after 12 months on the strategy for targeting cancer prevention campaigns at harder to reach groups and socioeconomically deprived areas, to include information on the intended timescales, financial implications and how the effectiveness of campaigns will be measured.
4. That the Minister for Health and Social Services provides an update to the Committee after 12 months on the steps that have been taken to ensure that all opportunities are explored and taken up to promote screening among harder to reach groups, and the impact of such promotion on screening uptake.
5. That the Minister for Health and Social Services works with the Wales Deanery and the General Medical Council to ensure that GPs' training and continuing professional development raises awareness of cancer symptoms, early diagnosis, and the tools and resources available to support GPs in their roles.
6. That the Minister for Health and Social Services requires health boards to take steps to ensure that GPs have clarity about the services available and the referral arrangements in their areas.
7. That the Minister for Health and Social Services makes a statement on cancer diagnosis, to include diagnostic treatments, the Minister's strategy to support diagnostics across Wales, and the impact and value for money resulting from the additional funding provided in 2014-15.
8. That to ensure that there is consistency and equity across Wales, the Minister for Health and Social Services establishes a national panel to consider and make decisions about Individual Patient Funding Requests.
9. That the Minister for Health and Social Services provides an update after 12 months to the Committee on the actions taken, including the guidance he has committed to provide, and progress made by health boards to ensure that the requirements in the Cancer Delivery Plan for all patients to be assigned a key worker and provided a written care plan are met by 2016.
10. That the Minister for Health and Social Services sets out the actions which will be taken, with associated timescales and financial implications, to address the aftercare needs of the increasing numbers of people living with cancer in the longer term. Such actions should take account of patients' medical and non-medical needs.
11. That the Minister for Health and Social Services sets out the actions which will be taken, with associated timescales and financial implications, to reduce inequities in access to end of life and palliative care, and provides the Committee with an update after 12 months on the impact of those actions.
12. That, as a matter of priority, the Minister for Health and Social Services considers the development or replacement of the Cancer Network Information System Cymru, and ensures that both clinical and research priorities are taken into account, including secondary episodes of care.
13. That the Minister for Health and Social Services sets out the actions which will be taken, with associated timescales, to ensure the development and service delivery of stratified medicine in Wales.