Macmillan Cancer Support has been "shocked" by the absence of incentives to improve cancer survival rates in the reformed NHS framework.
The charity's reaction has been in response to the lack of key cancer survival indiciators in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework recommendations that will be used to hold the reformed England to account.
Ciarán Devane, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "We are shocked that it has been recommended that the NHS Commissioning Outcomes Framework should not include key cancer survival indicators. This means commissioners will lack strong incentives to improve cancer survival rates.
"If the NHS wants to fulfil its ambition of saving 5,000 additional lives from cancer by 2014/15, then key cancer survival indicators must be included in the framework. It is also vital that the framework includes strong incentives to improve patient experience throughout the NHS."
She added the charity was determined to work with those responsible for the "surprising oversight" in the recommendations and urgently address the issue.
