The NHS and DHSC has unveiled an ambitious National Cancer Plan, a sweeping ten-year strategy designed to significantly boost cancer survival rates. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the central goal: by 2035, 75% of people diagnosed with cancer will be cancer-free or living well five years post-diagnosis. This goal is a direct response to the UK's consistently lagging cancer outcomes compared to international peers, where the current five-year survival rate stands at approximately 60%. Achieving this target is projected to save an estimated 320,000 lives over the plan's duration.
The strategy is backed by a record investment of roughly £2.3 billion and focuses on three core pillars. The first is Faster Diagnosis and Treatment, targeting the NHS to meet all cancer waiting time standards by 2029, including the critical goal of 85% of patients starting definitive treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral—up from the current 70%. The second pillar focuses on Technology and Innovation, committing to a substantial expansion of diagnostic capacity to deliver up to 9.5 million additional tests annually by 2029. This includes a dramatic increase in robot-assisted surgery and the wider adoption of genomic and personalised medicine. The third pillar, Extended Access, will see community diagnostic centres increase operating hours, including evenings and weekends, to reduce delays.
While the ambition is widely welcomed, experts caution that delivery will be challenging due to existing systemic pressures and performance shortfalls. Current data shows that the crucial 62-day referral-to-treatment target remains underperformed at about 70%, a major factor in the UK's lower survival rates. Cancer charities, though supportive, have stressed that success hinges not just on financial investment but on addressing persistent workforce and capacity challenges, including acquiring specialised staff and facilities. The plan seeks to emulate successful long-term frameworks in countries like Denmark and Norway by embedding early detection, digital innovation, and personalised treatment at scale.
