Professor John Neoptolemos has been appointed as the Clinical Chair of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) committee for Pancreas Cancer.
NICE is an independent organisation which is accountable to the Department of Health. The work of NICE is to improve the outcomes for people who use the NHS.
Professor Neoptolemos will apply his experience to produce a set of guidance, recommendations, and standards, based on evidence. This helps those who make decisions about health services, plan high quality services for patients.
Welcomed by leading charities
Professor Neoptolemos will lead the committee to produce the first set of guidelines for Pancreas Cancer, due to be published in 2018. Pancreatic Cancer affects over 8500 people each year in the UK, and sadly less than 5% of those diagnosed survive for 5 years or more.
His appointment has been welcomed by the leading Pancreatic Cancer charities. Maggie Blanks, Founder and CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund said: “The development of guidelines specifically for pancreatic cancer is a crucial step in addressing the particular challenges this disease poses, and tackling the variations in treatment that exist.
Guidelines are based on the best available research evidence, so will help ensure all patients receive the most effective treatment and best possible standards of care.
Professor Neoptolemos is ideally placed for this appointment. His wealth of expertise in pancreatic cancer as both a clinician and a researcher will stimulate a wide ranging and rigorous review and will produce guidelines directed at the best outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.”