Health service policy

• Health & Medicine

Cancer waiting times: Latest updates and analysis

Get the latest updates and analysis on NHS cancer waiting times in England, and learn what it means for people affected by cancer Get the latest updates and analysis on NHS cancer waiting times in England, and learn what it means for people affected by cancer

10 April 2025

• Policy & Insight

Early warnings, better outcomes: Getting the infrastructure right to unlock data for cancer detection

To get the most out of data-driven programmes we need to see some changes in the UK’s health data infrastructure. Here we explore what those changes need to be, and how programmes like CD3 can align with government’s priorities.  To get the most out of data-driven programmes we need to see some changes in the UK’s health data infrastructure. Here we explore what those changes need to be, and how programmes like CD3 can align with government’s priorities. 

19 March 2025

• Health & Medicine

Cancer death rates almost 60% higher in UK’s most deprived areas

Our new report, Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic deprivation, shows that cancer death rates are nearly 60% higher for people living in the most deprived areas of the UK, with around 28,400 extra cancer deaths each year linked to socioeconomic inequality. Our new report, Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic deprivation, shows that cancer death rates are nearly 60% higher for people living in the most deprived areas of the UK, with around 28,400 extra cancer deaths each year linked to socioeconomic inequality.

21 February 2025

• Health & Medicine

74,000 cancer patients not treated on time in 2024

New analysis has shown that last year, 74,000 cancer patients didn’t start their treatment on time. That's enough people to fill the O2 arena almost four times over. New analysis has shown that last year, 74,000 cancer patients didn’t start their treatment on time. That's enough people to fill the O2 arena almost four times over.

13 February 2025

• Policy & Insight

The road to a smokefree UK: MLAs in Northern Ireland vote in favour of Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Today marks an important and exciting day for our Smokefree UK campaign, with Members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at the Northern Ireland Legislative Consent Motion. Today marks an important and exciting day for our Smokefree UK campaign, with Members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at the Northern Ireland Legislative Consent Motion.

10 February 2025

• Policy & Insight

2024 in review - 7 significant steps forward for cancer policy

It's been a busy year for the policy team at Cancer Research UK! From campaigning for tobacco control to working internationally to beat cervical cancer, here are seven policy highlights from 2024. It's been a busy year for the policy team at Cancer Research UK! From campaigning for tobacco control to working internationally to beat cervical cancer, here are seven policy highlights from 2024.

27 December 2024

• Health & Medicine

Almost 90,000 cancer cases caught by screening over last five years

New data analysis from our Cancer Intelligence team has shown that around 89,800 cancer cases have been detected by the three national screening programmes in England in the last five years New data analysis from our Cancer Intelligence team has shown that around 89,800 cancer cases have been detected by the three national screening programmes in England in the last five years

19 December 2024

• Policy & Insight

What role can NHS scientists play in delivering the genomic revolution?

Alice Hilborn, policy advisor at Cancer Research UK, sits down with David Wells, chief executive at the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), to understand the views of the IBMS on the future of genomic medicine, and the role healthcare scientists could play. Alice Hilborn, policy advisor at Cancer Research UK, sits down with David Wells, chief executive at the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), to understand the views of the IBMS on the future of genomic medicine, and the role healthcare scientists could play.

10 December 2024

• Policy & Insight

Autumn statement 2024: What does the budget mean for cancer?

Today was the first budget from the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. Here, we take a look at what the autumn statement means for cancer. Today was the first budget from the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. Here, we take a look at what the autumn statement means for cancer.

31 October 2024

• Policy & Insight

What did party conference season mean for cancer?

Ian Caleb, public affairs manager, reviews the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences and explains what they mean for cancer. Ian Caleb, public affairs manager, reviews the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences and explains what they mean for cancer.

4 October 2024

• Health & Medicine

300,000 won’t start cancer treatment on time if waiting times don't improve

With 300,000 people set to wait longer than they should for treatment over the next five years, the new government needs to improve cancer waiting times performance.  With 300,000 people set to wait longer than they should for treatment over the next five years, the new government needs to improve cancer waiting times performance. 

20 September 2024

• Policy & Insight

How Secure Data Environments can help drive advances in health data research

NHS England is changing the way that researchers access health data in England by moving to a network of Secure Data Environments. With proper government support, it can help researchers find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. NHS England is changing the way that researchers access health data in England by moving to a network of Secure Data Environments. With proper government support, it can help researchers find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

8 August 2024