The National Cancer Guidance Steering Group, as it is now called, was set up soon after the Calman-Hine report was published. It was charged with developing guidance for the implementation of the new policy in NHS services for the common cancers, starting with breast. There was no precedent for this type of document, and apart from the recognition that the guidance should complement existing clinical guidelines, no clear picture as to what the documents should be like, nor clarity about the ground they should cover. Only the aim was clear: to help those responsible for commissioning, organising and delivering good breast cancer care
