National Cancer Registry Board publishes strategic plan for 2013-2016

This plan takes into account the anticipated retirement of the current Director in 2014, the continuing development of cancer services and the changing research environment. To inform the plan, the Board carried out a wide consultation in which the views of a range of key bodies and individuals were obtained on the current and future role of the Registry.

The Board identified the two main aims of the Registry as:

1. To collect accurate, timely and comprehensive data through cancer registration and related research activities.
2. To disseminate data and the results of analysis and research in a relevant and comprehensive manner.

Three key challenges to achieving these aims are addressed in the strategy:

1. To identify the optimum setting for the Registry at a time of reorganisation and reform of public and health services.
2. To maintain and improve the quality of data and research output from the Registry at a time of change and financial restrictions within the health services and society generally.
3. To make the Registry more relevant to service planning and clinical practice to the ultimate benefit of cancer patients.