Accelerate, Coordinate, Evaluate (ACE) Programme

Key Features

ACE collaborated with organisations across the UK to test and evaluate innovative models of care. The programme focused on improving patient outcomes and reducing unwarranted variation in cancer pathways. Through the independent evaluation of a wide range of interventions, ACE generated insights that shaped both national policy and local practice.

Programme Delivery

ACE was delivered in three waves, each targeting different aspects of cancer care innovation:

• Wave 1 (2014–2018): Delivered 60 projects focused on improving 
• Wave 2 (2015–2019): Piloted 5 Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Centres (MDCs) to support patients who have non-specific but concerning symptoms, improving access to timely diagnosis.
• Wave 3 (2019–2025): Focussed on variation in lung cancer treatment, exploring factors that can lead to variation such as patients’ preferences and the way the health system is organised. A compendium of best practices was developed using case studies from across the UK.

Impact

ACE contributed to improving cancer diagnostic pathways, access to curative treatments, and enhanced patient experience. The programme outputs informed service redesign and supported the spread of best practice across the NHS. It concluded in 2025, leaving behind a legacy of evidence-based innovation that continues to influence cancer services across the UK.

Evaluation

A full evaluation of waves 1 and 2 took place in 2020.