The Lanarkshire Healthcare Strategy ‘Achieving Excellence’ sets out the case for change to meet the current and future health and social care demands of the population of Lanarkshire.

Within the strategy, cancer services describes the phased approach to achieving a single site vision, taking into account patients’ views, the pressure on Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) delivery and the drivers for change.

Margaret Kelly, cancer services manager, said: “SACT is a term used to describe all medicines given for the treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy and biological therapy are two examples of SACT routinely used to treat cancer.

“Over the past few years we have seen a steady increase in the number of cancer treatments being delivered in Lanarkshire. With a growing population, and as more and more cancer treatments become available, we anticipate that this will continue to rise.

“We have been looking at how we can redesign our current services working in partnership with the West of Scotland and patient representatives to ensure we meet the needs of patients living with cancer in the future.

“Both a West of Scotland and local service review is being carried out to see how we can improve treatment for people with cancer.”