Cancer Commissioning
Fit for purpose in the new NHS architecture?

Adrian Newland Close

Adrian Newland is Professor of Haematology at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, where he is also Clinical Director of the North East London Cancer Network. He chairs the London Cancer New Drugs Group and has been leading on the Cancer Drugs Fund in London. Adrian is a member of the National Chemotherapy Implementation Committee, the Cancer Reform Strategy Group and the Medical Research Council Leukaemia Trials Steering Committee. He chaired the review looking at models of care for common cancers for London.

Professor Sir Mike RichardsClose

Professor Richards was appointed as the first National Cancer Director in October 1999, and in 2000, he led the development of the NHS Cancer Plan. He has also led the development of the Cancer Reform Strategy, the first ever End of Life Care Strategy, and more recently, the development of Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer (January 2011)—the first of a number of outcome strategy documents setting out the ways in which the Coalition Government will meet its aim of delivering healthcare outcomes that are as good as anywhere in the world.

Prior to his appointment to the Department of Health, Mike was a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Guy's Hospital where he specialised in breast cancer, and Sainsbury Professor of Palliative Medicine at St Thomas' Hospital. He was also Clinical Director of Cancer Services at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals.

Mike was closely involved in the establishment of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) in 2001 and has been a board member since its foundation. Between April 2006 and March 2008 he was Chairman of the NCRI Board. He was appointed CBE in 2001 and was awarded a knighthood in the 2010 New Year's Honours.

Nick SummertonClose

Dr Nick Summerton is a General Practitioner and Public Health Physician with particular interests in cancer diagnostics/screening, evidence-based practice, health technology assessment and service development. He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners, a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and has been awarded a doctorate from the University of Oxford for his original research on primary care diagnostics.

In addition to working as a General Practitioner since 1988 (initially single-handedly and subsequently as a part-time partner), he has occupied a variety of parallel positions as a Public Health Consultant, Primary Care Trust Medical Director, Clinical Lead (BUPA and BMI), and as a Clinical Advisor to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Department of Health.

Stefan WalzerClose

Dr Stefan Walzer has nearly 9-years experience in payer strategy and its implementation, and is the Founder and General Manager of MArS Market Access and Pricing Strategy, Germany. He previously worked as a Payer Consultant for various global pharmaceutical and medical device companies, successfully launching their products across the world. Stefan was also the Global Payer Strategy Leader for various products and compounds of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., where he successfully developed early payer strategies as well as launching and maintaining the reimbursement process for top oncology brands and early compounds. Stefan has been working on various projects around AMNOG in the last years and is well connected to various academic institutions in Germany and Europe.

Stefan received a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Tuebingen, Germany, a PhD in (Health) Economics from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and a Diploma in Clinical Trials from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK). He has also co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific articles and more than 40 scientific abstracts.

Andrew WilsonClose

Andrew Wilson was appointed Chief Executive of the Rarer Cancers Foundation (RCF) in 2008 and is responsible for overseeing the charity's support services and campaigning activity. He regularly engages with, and advises, policymakers on cancer services and improvements in care for patients. Through his role with the RCF, Andrew is involved in the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on cancer and is a member of the strategic steering groups for both the Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG) and Cancer 52. He also sits on the steering committee of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) through his role as the Financial Director of the Hepatitis B Foundation (UK).

Jamie FergusonClose

Dr Jamie Ferguson trained in medicine at Guy's Hospital, London, and has been a Consultant in Public Health in South East London since 1997. For much of this time, he has specialised in commissioning cancer services, in particular chemotherapy agents, and the prioritisation of new cancer drugs.

During his 2 and a half years as Medical Director of the South East London Cancer Network, Jamie was responsible for the implementation of the process for prioritisation of new cancer drugs across the whole of London. Previously Head of Public Health at the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Commissioning Alliance (2009–2011), he is now a Consultant in Public Health at NHS Lambeth.

Andrew DaviesClose

Andrew Davies is Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at the Cancer Sciences Division of the University of Southampton School of Medicine. He graduated in medicine with honours from the University of Southampton having also gained a firstclass Bachelor of Science degree. He went on to train in medical oncology at Barts Hospital in London, and as a CRUK Clinical Fellow undertook a PhD examining the molecular mechanisms underlying transformation of follicular lymphoma to more aggressive histological subtypes.

Dr Davies specialises in the treatment of malignant lymphoma and the use of high-dose chemotherapy. He has a particular interest in the investigation of monoclonal-antibody-containing therapies applied to lymphoma and in the translation of biomarkers and novel therapies to the clinical arena.

Dr Davies has authored and co-authored numerous publications including those published in The Lancet Oncology, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood and Haematologica.

Steve WilliamsonClose

Steve Williamson is the Consultant Pharmacist for Cancer Services—a joint role with Northumbria Healthcare Trust and the North of England Cancer Network. Within the Trust, Steve provides leadership and strategic direction to the development and delivery of chemotherapy services. He is also the Professional Secretary to the North of England Cancer Drugs Approval Group (NECDAG).

Steve has undertaken research into capacity planning in chemotherapy services and has worked with the Department of Health in the development of its capacity planning tools. His current area of interest is extending the clinical pharmacist role in supporting patients on oral chemotherapy.

Peter ClarkClose

Professor Peter Clark has been a Medical Oncologist in Liverpool for over 20 years, particularly working in cancer units and linking with the cancer centre. He is co-Chair of the National Chemotherapy Implementation Advisory Group, and a member of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Committee and the National Committee of Regional Cancer Drugs Fund Leads. He is passionate about equity of access to quality of care, cancer drugs and clinical trials.

Jacqui ThorntonClose

Jacqui Thornton is a long-standing national newspaper Health Journalist who is now also a Lecturer, Facilitator and Trainer.

After stints at The Daily Telegraph and Daily Express as a News Reporter, she joined The Sunday Telegraph in 1996 and later became its Health Correspondent. In 2000 she left to join The Sun as its first Health Editor, and remained there for 7 years.

She now runs her own company, Jacqui Thornton Communications, which provides writing, media training and facilitation services to industry, medical charities and government. Clients include Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Care and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and she has chaired many media events on cancer.

Jacqui is a member of the Medical Journalists' Association and the Guild of Health Writers in the UK, and is a Lecturer in journalism at The University of Winchester. She was a Non-Executive Director of Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust from 2008–2012.