The government has said it will tackle the ‘postcode lottery’ in rural and coastal areas of England ahead of the upcoming National Cancer Plan.
They will do this by introducing new training places targeted at trusts with the biggest workforce gaps which will prioritise rural and coastal areas.
In collaboration with the Royal Colleges, they also plan to increase the number of cancer specialists by encouraging more doctors to specialise in clinical and medical oncology.
ICBs are currently waiting for details of what the National Cancer plan will look like.
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Health secretary Wes Streeting said that the government will give people in coastal and rural areas the ‘same shot at survival and quality of life as everyone else’.
He said: ‘For too long, your chances of seeing a doctor and catching cancer early have depended on where you live. That’s not fair and has to stop.
‘I am determined to end the health inequalities that have grown across England over the last 15 years.
‘We’re training more doctors in the communities that need them most and making sure the latest cancer detection technology reaches every corner of the country.’
In a bid to tackle inequalities, the government said the plan will also set new national standards for cancer care and invest in the latest technology and AI to spot cancers earlier.
They say that, from April 2027, new tests, devices and digital tools will go through the same rigorous approval process as medicines. Once approved, the NHS has to fund the technology.
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The first technologies to be assessed under the new model include:
- A ‘sponge on a string’ test that detects early signs of oesophageal cancer in minutes.
- Smart software analysing tissue samples for prostate and breast cancer, speeding up diagnosis while freeing specialists for complex cases.
- AI that reads chest X-rays to help GPs catch suspected lung cancer sooner.
- New techniques helping women with unexplained vaginal bleeding get faster answers on endometrial cancer.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will start assessing the first two technologies this year.
There will also be new cancer manuals which set out what good care looks like and national standards for the journey from diagnosis to rehabilitation.
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England added that the plan aims to ensure ‘no one needing a diagnosis or treatment is left behind’.
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He added: ‘We’re rolling out services, treatments and technology across the country so you will be able to access world-class cancer specialists and the latest treatments that are right for you, no matter where you live.’
The National Cancer Plan has been developed with groups such as Macmillan Cancer Support.
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