There are now 300 primary care cancer lead clinicians across the UK. In addition to overseeing quality assurance and clinical governance in primary care trusts (PCTs), the leads develop and streamline cancer services with in cancer networks, linking PCT staff with secondary and tertiary care. Jackie Tritton describes the role

The ever-changing NHS has brought many exciting and challenging opportunities for the nursing profession to lead and develop on improving patient care services, and the new primary care cancer lead clinician (PCCL) post has been one such an opportunity. This role enables a clinician to influence the strategic development of cancer services at local and network level while maintaining patient contact. But how did this post come about?