NHS England, together with local clinical commissioning groups, is currently considering changing the way some specialised cancer and cardiovascular services are delivered in north and east London and west Essex.

Cancer and cardiovascular disease cause two-thirds of early deaths in London. If we were to improve local survival rates for heart disease and all cancers in line with at least the rate for England we could save over 1200 lives a year. So we can and must do better. The case for change sets out proposals to bring together the best specialists, with the best equipment and expertise along with state-of-the art technologies in centres of excellence, to improve patient care and outcomes.

Over the past four weeks, a number of engagement events have taken place at venues across the area, giving staff, patients and members of the public the chance to talk to clinicians and commissioners about the proposals and give their feedback on what the changes would mean for them.

The current engagement period finishes on 4 December 2013 and there is still time to send us your comments. You can do so in one of the following ways:

Emailing: cancerandcardiovascular@nelcsu.nhs.uk

Writing to: Cancer and cardiovascular programmes, c/o North and East London Commissioning Support Unit Clifton House, 75-77 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DU

Calling: 020 3688 1086

For further details, please visit: www.england.nhs.uk/london/engmt-consult