The UK government’s £26 billion NHS investment has enabled 80,000 more people to receive cancer diagnoses or all-clear results within 28 days
The government’s largest-ever investment in the NHS is already delivering results, with tens of thousands more patients receiving faster cancer diagnoses. As part of a bold reform agenda, efforts to expand capacity, resolve industrial action, and prioritise cancer care drive meaningful improvements across the health service.
£26 million investment in healthcare
The UK Government’s Plan for Change has delivered £26bn into the NHS, with cancer care at the centre of the plan. The funding enabled the NHS to offer more appointments out of hours, which directly contributed to 76.1% of patients receiving their cancer diagnosis or all clear within 28 days from July 2024 to January 2025, up from 71.8% 12 months earlier.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This government made tough decisions in the budget that put £26 billion into our NHS – and patients are already seeing the results.
“Too many cancer patients are facing agonisingly long waits for diagnosis and treatment. As a survivor, I know first-hand just how important it is to receive a timely diagnosis so treatment can begin as quickly as possible.
“We are on a mission to drive down waiting times, and our Plan for Change is already getting patients seen and treated faster, with 80,000 more diagnosed or ruled out with cancer between July and January.
“This is just the start, and we will continue driving fundamental reform of the NHS to ensure it delivers for all patients again.”
Delivering cancer diagnoses and improving health outcomes
Since July 2024, waiting lists have been cut by 193,000, and two million extra appointments for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy, and diagnostic tests are being delivered seven months ahead of schedule.
The UK Government has now committed to getting a further 100,000 people diagnosed on time by March 2026, with figures suggesting this will be delivered ahead of schedule.
To solidify the government’s commitment to improving cancer diagnoses and care, it will publish its National Cancer Plan this year, with a call for evidence now live to encourage cancer experts, people living with cancer, and medical professionals to help shape its development. Furthermore, a new UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research is also being launched to provide coordination, target investment, and maximise opportunities for the UK to lead clinical research. This will help to unlock innovation and growth.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “Providing rapid access to tests ensures that people with cancer can start treatment as soon as possible when it is most likely to be successful, and will help to put people’s minds at rest if they don’t have cancer, so it is an important step forward that thousands more patients each month are getting the all-clear or a diagnosis within 4 weeks.
“Thanks to the efforts of staff and NHS campaigns encouraging people to get worrying symptoms checked out or to take up our offer of screening, we are seeing more people coming forward than ever. I encourage anyone overdue for a check or who has noticed changes in their body to contact their GP surgery as soon as possible so they can get checked.”
Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: “Waiting for answers can be an incredibly worrying period for anyone affected, so we welcome the government’s commitment to further cut waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment this year.
“The UK government has the opportunity to improve things further and faster with its upcoming National Cancer Plan for England. More people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before, and our health service needs a long-term plan to be able to prepare and help people live longer, better lives properly.”
