Joint Collegiate Council for Oncology

1    The Joint Collegiate Council for Oncology (JCCO) is established jointly between the Royal College of Physicians of London (RCPL) and the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), being the two Colleges containing the major non-surgical specialties involved in managing cancer. The JCCO is firmly based in the two Colleges and answerable to the Council (RCPL) and the Faculty Board of Clinical Oncology (RCR). It advises the RCPL and the RCR on matters relating to service needs, education, staffing and resources for treatment of cancer, and helps to produce specialist input and co-ordinated responses to all consultations and matters relating to cancer treatment, prevention and research. This work includes the provision of expert input to consultations conducted by the Department of Health and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), as well as government bodies and committees such as the National Audit Office and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer. It is responsible for developing policies on all matters related to the development of cancer care and research, having regard to patients’ interests and views at all times. 

2    OBJECTIVES 

2.1    Professional standards in Oncology

The JCCO will support the development and maintenance of high quality non-surgical Oncology practice and standards.

2.2    Advice on the Provision of Cancer Services

The JCCO may arrange the efficient collection and collation of information on service, workforce provision, cancer outcomes, drugs and equipment relevant to the two specialties of non-surgical oncology. 

The JCCO shall report this information to NHS England through the National Clinical Director for Cancer.  

The JCCO may assist in coordinating reviews of oncology services.

2.3    Co-ordination of Training between the Specialties of Clinical and Medical Oncology

The JCCO shall:

-    Advise on the co-ordination of all relevant aspects of professional training between the two Specialties. This will include the development of common core educational standards, competencies and workplace assessments where appropriate.

-    Identify opportunities to enable integration of training.

-    Encourage training in the scientific basis of the treatment of oncological disease and encourage those in training to take part in scientific research. 

-    Through both Colleges, seek to co-ordinate the approval of posts with the GMC when there is joint training in a programme.

-    In the event of both Specialties holding specialist accreditation examinations, seek to ensure cross specialty representation. 

-    Seek to ensure that there is full coordination of the Specialties with the Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB).

-    Promote specialties of non-surgical oncology to undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees.

These aims will be facilitated by the Speciality of Clinical Oncology being represented on the Specialist Advisory Committee for Medical Oncology at the Royal College of Physicians of London, and the Specialty of Medical Oncology being represented on the Faculty of Clinical Oncology’s Specialty Training Board.

2.4    Future Development

The JCCO will review its structure and remit consistent with changing circumstances in service delivery in clinical and medical oncology, national strategic demands and professional standards.

3    REPRESENTATION

In order to strengthen links between the Colleges, and to facilitate the aims set out above, the Chair of the Joint Specialty Committee (JSC) for Medical Oncology (RCPL) is co-opted to the Board of the Faculty of Clinical Oncology (RCR). Similarly, the Vice-President of the Faculty of Clinical Oncology (RCR) is co-opted to the JSC for Medical Oncology (RCPL).

4    MEMBERSHIP

4.1    The aim shall be to keep the JCCO as small as possible to make it effective. It is recognised as very important to represent the views of patients, as well as those of junior members in training, from both Colleges.

4.2    Members and co-opted members will normally serve for a period of three years. Co-opted membership is renewable for a further term of up to three years, by agreement of the Chair of the JCCO. Ex-officio members’ period of office will coincide with the term of office for the position held.  

4.3    Membership shall consist of the following:

4.3.1    Ex-officio Members

-    President of the Royal College of Physicians of London
-    President of The Royal College of Radiologists
-    Registrar of the Royal College of Physicians of London
-    Vice-President, Faculty of Clinical Oncology of The Royal College of Radiologists
-    Chair of the JSC for Medical Oncology
-    Medical Director, Education and Training, Faculty of Clinical Oncology of The Royal College of Radiologists 
-    Chair of the Specialty Advisory Committee for Medical Oncology of the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians

4.3.2    Members

-    Three members of the RCR Faculty of Clinical Oncology
-    Three members of the RCPL Joint Specialty Committee for Medical Oncology
-    A member of the Oncology Registrars’ Forum  
-    A junior member of the JSC for Medical Oncology
    
4.3.3    Co-opted Members

-    National Clinical Director for Cancer
-    A patient representative from the RCPL
-    A lay representative appointed by the RCR
-    A representative of haematology for the Royal College of Pathologists
-    A representative from primary care 
-    A representative from the JSC for Palliative Medicine
-    A representative from the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group / Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
-    A representative from the Chemotherapy Clinical Reference Group
-    A representative from the Chemotherapy Clinical Information Group (Public Health England)

4.3.4    In-attendance (ex officio)

-    The Chief Executive of the Royal College of Physicians of London
-    The Chief Executive of the Royal College of Radiologists
-    A representative from the Standing Scottish Committee (RCPL)

4.4    The JCCO has powers to co-opt and make recommendations on other provisions for membership as necessary.

4.5    JCCO meetings shall be quorate if two consultant Clinical Oncologists and two consultant Medical Oncologists are present. If a member from the JSC for Medical Oncology and/or if a member from the RCR Faculty of Clinical Oncology is unable to attend any meeting, a nominated deputy can attend in their place.

4.6    The Committee may create specialist Sub-Committees on a permanent or ad hoc basis; the JSC for Medical Oncology (for the RCPL) and the Board of the Faculty of Clinical Oncology (for the RCR) must approve recommendations for establishing Working Parties and the output from those Working Parties.

4.7    The role of Chair will be rotated every two years between representatives of the RCR and RCPL.  

4.8    Secretariat duties shall be rotated every two years between the RCPL and the RCR with effect from 1st October.

4.9      Costs associated with supporting and accommodating meetings and other business of the JCCO will be met by the host College. The travel and subsistence costs of individual members will be met by their respective College or organisation.

March 2017