We aim to deliver an effective and robust cancer performance and improvement management function across the ICS. The team collaborates closely with the SEL Cancer Alliance (SELCA), provider Trusts, primary care, and NHS England. The team focuses on the strategic, financial and operational aspects of the delivery of cancer performance standards and high-quality cancer pathways, including supporting the development and implementation of care transformation and oversight and assurance of delivery against plans. As such, the work programme is very broad, covering primary care, early diagnosis and screening, through to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, and all interdependent aspects of cancer care within South East London.
The ICB Cancer team works in close partnership with SELCA and as such has aligned outputs, please see further details on the SELCA team here which also highlights some recent achievements within the sector for Cancer.
Managing Demand for Cancer Services
Since the pandemic, there have been significant changes in patterns of referrals for suspected cancers in South East London and the ability of services to manage this demand. This has a number of causes, from changes in when and how patients present to their GP in order to initiate a referral, to the impact of the pandemic on capacity within services, and the drive for the NHS to ‘catch-up’ on activity that was drastically reduced during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given this, it is more important than ever that our services are able to plan their capacity effectively to manage expected growth and ensure that patients are seen within expected waiting times.
To support this, the SEL ICB Cancer Team has produced a ‘Cancer Referral Demand Planning Tool’ which is now available online to all teams across all hospital sites and Trusts in South East London. This uses data and modelling approaches recommended and endorsed by NHS England to provide a single, system solution to support cancer referral demand planning. This has been used to support service developments, facilitate discussions on mutual aid between Trusts and provide equitable, evidence-based planning practices across SEL.
For further information please contact the Cancer team via email on:
Local residents came together at the Hawthorn Centre in Penge on Wednesday 22nd January 2026 for the Jobs Plus Community Wellness Day – an event designed to support people in setting positive health goals for the year ahead. The event brought together a range of healthcare professionals and organisations offering advice, checks and practical support. […]
Lewisham residents gathered in Deptford last week for the second in a series of free community sessions designed to raise awareness about high blood pressure and how to manage it. The “Understanding High Blood Pressure” session, held on 21st January 2026 at Wavelengths Leisure Centre, built on the success of the first session in Forest Hill and continued […]
If you need urgent dental care for any of the following conditions, you can book an urgent appointment by visiting NHS 111 on the NHS app, online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111. Severe toothache: persistent and intense pain that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Dental abscess: infection causing swelling, pain, and possibly fever. […]