Patient-held shared care cancer records have many advantages, and can, in the short term, form the vehicle to transfer information between the different professional groups. Appropriate utilisation of the NHSnet and Internet should be made. A full technical specification should be developed from the project's findings. Practical, pragmatic initiatives should be encouraged on a wide basis. Longer term solutions linked to IT should not deflect the achievement of essential improvements at the earliest opportunity.
Quality communications are the key to quality cancer care.