Cancer strategies are crucial for driving improvements in cancer prevention, research and care, so that everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. To continue to improve cancer outcomes across the UK, and to make our outcomes among the best in the world in the coming years, we need to maintain comprehensive cancer plans that incentivise action and dedicate funding towards beating cancer.
Cancer strategies across UK nations are proven to help set direction across complex systems and ensure that resources are allocated for maximum impact. The value of having cancer specific strategies in place is also internationally recognised. Research from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, which is hosted by CRUK, has clearly demonstrated that consistent cancer policies over time are directly related to long term improvements in cancer outcomes. We agree and believe that each country in the UK should have its own tailored, comprehensive strategy, with dedicated resource.
It is positive that both Scotland and Northern Ireland have long-term cancer strategies in place, but with the absence of the NI Executive between 2022- 2024 and no additional dedicated funding yet announced in Scotland, it is important that these countries now show the ambition needed to implement these plans. NHS Wales’ Cancer Improvement Plan sets out ambitions in line with the Government’s Quality Statement for Cancer; however, the plan is only short-term, spanning just a 3-year period and lacks the drive needed for long- term, sustainable improvements.
In England, the UK Government is developing a National Cancer Plan. It is essential that it works areas that are vital for creating an effective cancer control system, including research and prevention.
The Government is currently working towards a new National Cancer Plan.
Previously, the latest dedicated cancer control plan for England was the 2015 Achieving World Class Cancer Outcomes: A strategy for cancer 2015–2020, which was written by the Independent Cancer Taskforce and adopted in full by NHS England. This had a positive impact, including, introducing Cancer Alliances which connect local cancer providers together to improve and transform cancer services. The strategy also refocused systems on early diagnosis and secured new investment on radiotherapy. However, there has not been a new strategy since the 2015 strategy meaning that for the first time since 2000, England currently does not have a cancer strategy in place.
Cancer services in recent years have been led by the NHS Long Term Plan, which did set out a number of transformation projects including Targeted Lung Health Screening and the welcome ambition to see 75% of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 or 2 by 2028.
It was welcome in 2022 that the then Government announced a new ‘war on cancer’ and promised a 10-year cancer plan for England. However, a year later the government reengaged on this promise. A multimorbidity plan, the ‘Major Conditions Strategy’ was announced as a replacement. But we were concerned that this will not have the focus on cancer which a cancer specific strategy can deliver for patients. The Government’s National Cancer Plan must take accountability for improving cancer outcomes for patients across England.
The Welsh Government published its Cancer Services Improvement Plan for Wales in 2023. The plan included some positive commitments to address the immediate issues for cancer patients, including actions to help diagnose people sooner, such as lung-screening and the roll-out of community diagnostic hubs. However, the plan only looks ahead three years, which is not long enough if we are going to solve issues surrounding underinvestment and workforce shortages. Cancer Research UK will be working to support the implementation of the commitments made in this plan, whilst still calling for the Welsh Government to develop a longer-term strategy to truly transform cancer services in Wales, giving patients the world-leading care, they need.
The Northern Ireland Executive published a 10- year Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland in March 2022. Cancer Research UK had played a significant role in the development of the strategy, including working as part of the strategy’s core steering group, to ensure that cancer patients voices were considered in its design. The strategy offered a welcomed commitment to improve cancer services, and ambitious plans to increase survival.
However, with no Executive sitting, and the funding outlined in the strategy document not being made available, implementation of the plan has been limited. In the context of chronically poor waiting times for cancer patients, it is deeply concerning that the ambitions set out in the plan are not being realised. Cancer Research UK will continue work towards the strategy to be updated and implemented, alongside increased investment for cancer services.
Following a wide consultation including with patients and organisations such as Cancer Research UK, the Scottish Government published its 10- year Cancer Strategy in 2023. The strategy aims to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. It set out positive commitments including to prevent more cancers and to reduce late-stage cancer diagnosis.
If fully implemented the strategy has potential to transform cancer services in Scotland. This is why the strategy’s focus on delivery is also welcome, including that three separate delivery plans are being published over the 10- year period. However, the strategy risks not realising its full potential because it lacks full financial commitment. Moving forwards Cancer Research UK will be calling for the necessary resource to implement the strategy, so that we see Scotland’s cancer services change from world-lagging to world-leading.
