The UK Government has announced a substantial investment in the National Health Service (NHS), aimed at reducing wait times for cancer diagnoses.
According to the latest figures, 80,000 patients have benefited from shorter waiting times due to this initiative.
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The government’s Budget helps to prepare for economic stability and it has also allocated a record £26bn ($33.42bn) to improve the NHS.
This funding is part of the Plan for Change, which is designed to future-proof the NHS.
A new initiative to increase out-of-hours appointments has been a significant factor in improving cancer diagnosis rates.
From July 2024 to January 2025, 76.1% of patients received a cancer diagnosis or were given the all-clear within 28 days.
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By GlobalDataHealth and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This is just the start and we will continue driving fundamental reform of the NHS to ensure it is delivering for all patients once again.”
Two million extra appointments for treatments and diagnostic tests, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy, and others, have been made available seven months ahead of the anticipated schedule.
The Elective Reform Plan outlines further commitments to patient care, including the establishment of over 170 Community Diagnostic Centres across England within the year.
These centres will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week by March 2026, enhancing patient access to essential medical tests.
The government is also investing £1.5bn in surgical hubs and scanners to facilitate earlier cancer detection.
The NHS Planning Guidance has set a target to diagnose an additional 100,000 people on time by March 2026.
In addition, the government will introduce the National Cancer Plan, accompanied by a call for evidence to involve cancer experts, patients, and medical professionals in its development.
The launch of the UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research will coordinate investments and maximise the UK’s leadership potential in clinical research, promoting innovation and growth.
The government recently announced a funding initiative for community pharmacies, an initial step to improve pharmacy provisions across the country.
