Commissioning lymphoedema services for people living with and beyond cancer in London

The Transforming Cancer Services Team (TCST) in London has produced comprehensive commissioning guidance for commissioners to improve the commissioning of lymphoedema services for people living with and beyond cancer. The guidance identifies how services are commissioned in London, sets out what good looks like and recommends how it can be achieved. The guidance was developed with the support of a task and finish group and was informed by telephone interviews with seven GP commissioners. A comprehensive mapping of specialist services was undertaken and has shown shortfalls in commissioning processes and significant gaps in provision across London. There is considerable opportunity to make cost-savings through investment in lymphoedema services and education and training of the workforce is a clear priority moving forward. TCST is now supporting commissioners to examine their lymphoedema services, benchmark themselves against best practice, and work with others to deliver the best possible care for their communities.