Icon Group, a leading provider of integrated cancer care services across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, have recently entered the United Kingdom and are taking another significant step towards improving cancer care with the establishment of its European Board Committee. The committee aims to support Icon’s ambition to bring significant expertise in cutting-edge radiotherapy and chemotherapy compounding to collaborations with the NHS and independent UK healthcare providers.
This builds on Icon’s successful entry into the UK via the acquisition of Pharmaxo Group, a leading UK pharmaceutical specialist manufacturer and clinical homecare provider, and Nuffield Health’s Cancer Centre London (CCL).
The deep expertise underpinning the Board Committee will be fundamental in guiding and leveraging Icon’s success in public-private healthcare partnerships across the Asia and Pacific region, with the aim of growing high-quality, cost-effective comprehensive cancer care partnerships in the UK.
Addressing the cancer burden
The UK’s current cancer burden highlights the critical need to accelerate outcome-focused healthcare solutions for cancer patients across the region. Icon’s European Board Committee brings together the expertise to deliver innovative, forward-thinking solutions to improve capacity and quality in both the NHS and for independent healthcare providers.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in the UK, with an estimated 393,000 new cases diagnosed annually and around 167,000 people dying from cancer each year.1
Despite advances in treatment, 1 in 2 people will develop cancer in their lifetime, and access to innovative care remains a critical challenge with extended wait times and healthcare resource constraints a growing concern. Recent studies show that post-COVID the early detection of cancer has fallen by 8%2 with a likely knock on effect for cancer survival rates. For example, while colon cancer survival rates in the UK have been increasing overtime it sits at 60% - the lowest survival rate out of 18 OECD countries.2
Proven expertise, innovative solutions
There is a growing need to increase collaboration between private and public health to alleviate pressures and increase access to advanced cancer care. The committee is an extension of the Icon Group Board and brings together proven and respected healthcare leaders including:
- Lord Patrick Carter: Founder of Westminster Health Care and an influential figure in healthcare, insurance, and technology sectors. Lord Carter has held numerous board positions and was made a Life Peer in 2004.
- Dr Keith Ridge, CBE: Former Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England, for 16 years Dr Ridge was head of the pharmacy professions in England and the principal advisor on pharmacy and medicine use to NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and other government bodies.
They join fellow committee members:
- Paul McClintock, AO: Icon Group Board Chair. Renowned for his extensive experience in both public and private sectors.
- Jill Watts: Icon Group Non-Executive Director. A seasoned healthcare management professional, including CEO of BMI healthcare and Ramsay Healthcare in the UK.
- Mark Middleton, OAM: Icon Group’s Group Chief Executive Officer, pivotal in the global expansion of Icon’s cancer care services.
- Marcos Alvarez: Representative from EQT, offering valuable investment sector insights.
Icon Group CEO, Mark Middleton OAM, said the formation of the European Committee is a significant milestone in the Group’s mission.
“It’s a pivotal step in our mission to deliver the best care possible to more patients, closer to home,” Mark said. “Icon Group is a key cancer care provider in Australia with 50% of our cancer centres located in regional and outer-metropolitan areas and strong government partnerships. These centres have introduced innovative, world-class technologies locally, eliminating the need for long distance travel and radical surgeries where more non-invasive treatments can deliver better patient outcomes.
“We’ve seen real success in these cross-sector models and look forward to leveraging our expertise alongside this committee and local healthcare leadership to deliver greater access and positive outcomes for communities across the UK.”
“Post-COVID, we are seeing more late cancer diagnoses, and our current systems are grappling with the complexity and demand,” Lord Carter said. “This committee brings together healthcare leaders to focus on innovations and collaborations that will improve the accessibility of cancer care and patient outcomes.”
Dr Keith Ridge CBE echoes this sentiment: “Icon Group has a proven track record of working in partnership with public healthcare sectors to address care gaps, increase capacity, and provide greater efficiencies and access to world-class care in a timely manner – I look forward to working closely with the committee and the NHS as we collectively advocate for improvements in cancer care for patients.”
Alongside this committee Icon and Nuffield’s partnership is on track to expand patient access and enhance cancer care across the UK, with a focus on radiation oncology services in areas of unmet need.
References
1 MacMillan Cancer Support. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/research/cancer-statistics-fact-sheet
2 Nuffield Trust. Cancer Survival Rates. https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/cancer-survival-rates
