Top News

Three in four cancer patients will be free of or living well with the disease five years after their diagnosis by 2035, according to a new target announced by Labour. The Government will publish a National Cancer Plan on Wednesday setting out its blueprint for improving care over the next decade. Its new flagship target will require a significant increase in survival rates, from around 60% of patients currently surviving for five years.

Labour will also pledge to meet all NHS three key cancer waiting time standards by 2029, which would require hundreds of thousands more patients to start treatment faster. A target for 85% of patients to receive their first treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral has not been met since 2015.

Under the plan, the NHS will also ensure that 75% of patients receive a diagnosis or have cancer ruled out within 28 days of a referral, and that 96% start treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said a wide range of measures would be needed for this to happen.

She added: "England lags behind comparable countries on cancer survival and it's vital that this changes, so more people affected by cancer can live longer, better lives."

The plan will also promise sweeping reforms including a £2.3 billion investment in scanners, digital technology and automated testing to deliver almost 10 million additional tests by 2029.

More patients will be offered robotic-assisted surgery, which can reduce complications and free up hospital beds. And everyone who could benefit will be offered genomic testing to analyse their cancer's DNA and pinpoint the best treatment.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who was treated for kidney cancer in 2021, said survival "shouldn't come down to who won the lottery of life".

He added: "Cancer is more likely to be a death sentence in Britain than other countries around the world.

"As a cancer survivor who owes my life to the NHS, I owe it to future patients to make sure they receive the same outstanding care I did.

"Our cancer plan will invest in and modernise the NHS, so that opportunity can be seized and our ambitions realised. This plan will slash waits, invest in cutting-edge technology, and give every patient the best possible chance of beating cancer."

Other measures include the launch of a travel fund for young patients. The Government has allocated up to £10million per year to support the families of children who must travel for treatment, regardless of their income.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said the plan would set "a clear roadmap for the NHS to diagnose more cancers earlier".

Gemma Peters, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said the "bold survival ambitions" came "at a time when people living with cancer tell us all too often that their care hasn't been good enough, from long waits for tests and treatment to being left without the support they need once treatment ends".

She added: "This Plan has the potential to transform care for people living with cancer, ensuring people not only live longer but live better with their diagnosis.

"We look forward to working with the Government to make this vision a reality: adding life to years, as well as years to life."

Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie's, said it was vital that people receive "the right practical and emotional support" to live with and after cancer.

She added: "We are really pleased to see the Government recognise the need to improve support for people at every stage of cancer and acknowledge that the challenges of cancer don't end when treatment ends.

"While the number of people diagnosed with cancer is only going to rise, more people are surviving than ever before or living for many years as medical advancements effectively keep cancer at bay."

Express reporter Robert Fisk has been campaigning for better mental health support for NHS cancer patients, including consistent use of holistic needs assessments.