Lord Darzi’s independent investigation into the NHS in England delivered a stark assessment of cancer care. Highlighting the gap between policy and reality, it found that the NHS is failing to meet some of its most important commitments, with core cancer waiting time standards missed for more than a decade and survival rates lagging behind comparable countries.
The government’s 10-year National Cancer Plan for England sets out bold ambitions to improve survival, boost early diagnosis, and deliver more equitable, patient-centred care. With ambitious targets set for 2029 and 2035, the key question remains: can the NHS deliver these commitments while still fixing today’s pressures?
At this pivotal moment, leaders across the health and care system face the challenge of building cancer services that are not only fit for today, but ready to adopt the next wave of innovation. Progress is already visible in areas, but translating national ambition into consistent, real-world improvement for patients will require co-ordinated action across the system.
This conference brings together leaders from cancer alliances, policy, clinical services, commissioning, and the VCSE sector to explore what is working, and what must change, to turn plans into practice.
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