Organisation of gynaecological oncology services

The last decade has seen large-scale development and reconfiguration of gynaecological cancer services in the UK, and the infrastructure, manpower, expertise, processes and clinical governance are almost fully established to ensure equitable, high-quality care for all women, regardless of location. Services are arranged through a combination of the government-funded Department of Health/National Health Service infrastructure in association with the royal colleges and professional associations. Care is based on the 1995 Calman Hine Report A policy framework for commissioning cancer services and the 1999 Improving outcomes in gynaecological cancers. Clinical care is administered by multidisciplinary teams working within cancer centres (specialty teams) and cancer units (locality teams), and all but low-risk endometrial and microinvasive stage 1a cervical cancers are referred to these centres for treatment. Referral guidelines and patient pathways are agreed across cancer networks, and assessed against rigorous measures via the peer review process.