The primary justification for this study is to evaluate the impact of centralisation of care for people with head and neck cancer; a future publication will report on this evaluation.
Another more recent development and improvement in cancer care is the introduction of centralisation of care for advanced cases and major surgery.
A greater degree of centralisation of care for TYA is expected to result from the implementation of the recommendations of Improving Outcomes in Children and Young People with Cancer National Institute for Clinical Excellencee, 2005).
More detailed studies are needed to understand the impact of centralisation of RP services and the association with access issues for minority populations.
Turning the tide of centralisation and for the first time giving power away.
The trend of centralisation of specialised health care is likely to continue and consequently increase the need for air ambulance resources.
In 1998, a process of centralisation was initiated for services for children born with a cleft lip or palate in the UK.
Further information on the cost and cost effectiveness of centralisation would also be useful for policy makers and commissioners.
The experience of Senegal, for example, points to the benefits of centralisation as a way of delivering higher technology interventions in a capacity constrained environment.
Head and neck cancer care, for all the circumstantial evidence in favour of centralisation, remains the most disseminated of all cancers in the United Kingdom.
