The government has published its National Cancer Plan, taking the pathways set out in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and applying them to the UK's cancer care.
While more people are surviving cancer than before, progress has slowed over the last decade and cancer mortality rates in the UK are much higher than in other comparable countries. There has been little improvement in tackling inequalities in cancer mortality and early diagnosis rates were flat for nearly a decade and have only recently started to rise. Since 2014, the headline cancer performance standard – that 85% of patients should start treatment within 62 days – has been missed.
The National Cancer Plan
Against these challenges, science and innovation are at the heart of the Plan and will be the driving force for change. There is an unprecedented opportunity for HealthTech companies to support the delivery of the Plan’s ambitions across diagnostics, treatment and pathway management.
By way of headline pledges, the Plan commits the NHS to ensuring 3 in 4 people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 onwards are cancer-free or living well after 5 years. In addition, by March 2029, the NHS will meet all cancer waiting time standards, meaning hundreds of thousands more patients will receive timely treatment.
How will this be achieved
The Plan looks to the strength and resources of the life sciences sector to bring about these reforms to how cancer is diagnosed and treated. This 'full modernisation' of the approach to cancer care will be achieved by:
- Faster diagnostics - a £2.3 billion investment will deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029 by investing in more scanners, digital technology and automated testing. Where possible, community diagnostic centres will operate far longer hours to support testing.
- Robot-assisted surgery - the number of robot-assisted procedures will increase from 70,000 to half a million by 2035, reducing complications and freeing up hospital beds.
- Specialist centres - more patients with rarer cancers will have their care reviewed and treated at specialist cancer centres. These centres bring together surgeons, oncologists, specialist nurses and radiologists to agree the best treatment plan for each case.
- Genomic testing - every patient who could benefit will be offered a test that analyses the DNA of their cancer, helping doctors understand exactly the type of cancer and choose treatments most likely to work.
- Waiting lists: new technology is being developed to give patients better access to cancer tests by offering them the earliest available appointment from a range of NHS organisations in their local area.
Workforce issues must still be addressed and it will be vital to integrate successful MedTech solutions into the reality of day-to-day care delivery. But the emphasis of the Plan is on diagnostics, robotics, genomics and technology to deliver this ambitious agenda
