Ministers hire economist to scrutinise cancer performance

Health economist Anita Charlesworth will independently co-chair a “reformed” National Cancer Board, seven months after the government’s cancer plan promised a body “accountable for delivery” of its commitments.

The plan, published on 4 February, said the board would be chaired jointly by the Department of Health and Social Care and an independent figure from the cancer community, and would publish annual progress reports and an in-depth review after three years.

Ms Charlesworth will co-chair with Mark Cubbon, Manchester University Foundation Trust chief executive and NHS England’s elective care, cancer, and diagnostics director.

DHSC said the board would scrutinise progress against the plan’s more than 100 commitments, identify which areas were falling behind and advise ministers on further action.

Its first task is a set of standards the NHS is missing. The 28-day faster diagnosis threshold rose to 80% at the start of 2026-27 and has not been met since; July’s 79.3% was the best of the four months so far.

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Source: HSJ, 21 September 2026