National Cancer Action Team

The National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) is a member of the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI).  The aim of NAEDI is to harness the energy and contributions of national organisations, working together to save lives and increase survival through awareness and early diagnosis.

NAEDI is a public sector/third sector partnership between the Department of Health, National Cancer Action Team, and Cancer Research UK. It is led by Sir Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, and Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK.

NAEDI activity is organised into four work streams:

1. Achieving early presentation by public and patients
2. Optimising clinical practice and systems
3. Improving GP access to diagnostics 
4. Research, evaluation and monitoring

Since the formal launch of NAEDI in November 2008, great progress has been made to get cancer awareness and early diagnosis on the agenda locally. 

Key highlights of NAEDI, a presentation to the NAEDI Forum on 26/1/12, sets out policy and priorities for early diagnosis in 2012/13. The note of the May 2012 NAEDI Review meeting is here. 

A slide presentation showing Department of Health priorities for supporting primary care in 2012/13 and governance arrangements, based on a consultation with stakeholders, is available here. 

NAEDI work so far has focused on the cancers which potentially can make the biggest contribution to 'lives saved'. A report on rarer cancers and earlier diagnosis, written by the Department of Health in consultation with the relevant charities, is here.

NAEDI Newsletter

The latest edition of the NAEDI Newsletter is available for downloading here.