Despite some challenging obstacles in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been real measurable improvements in health outcomes over recent years, particularly in cancer outcomes. The King’s announcement of his cancer diagnosis has shone a light on the vital importance of early detection, and I know the whole of West Berkshire wishes His Majesty well as he commences treatment.
The Government’s ambition is to diagnose 75% of cancer at an early stage by 2028, and continue the significant progress made on improving cancer survival rates. Since 2010, survival rates across almost all types of cancer – including breast, prostate, bowel, and lung which make up more than half – have improved. Three in every four people now survive their cancer the first year after being diagnosed, with rates of survival for some cancers even higher.
Last April, NHS England published a one-year cancer survival index which looks at survival rates in 2020 compared to 2005. Overall, the first-year survival rate has risen by 9% to 74.6%. For both breast and prostate, this is now about 97% and for bowel cancer the survival rate is now above 80%. Although net survival for lung cancer is just below 50%, it showed the most improvement from 2005 to 2020, with estimates increasing by 19%.
In part this is thanks to innovations like lung health checks carried out in trucks in supermarket carparks and other community spaces. When fully rolled out by 2030, the expansion of the targeted lung cancer screening programme announced last June will detect around 9,000 cancers at an earlier stage each year.
Central to the Government’s commitment to speeding up diagnosis is the £2.3 billion investment in rolling out community diagnostic centres (CDCs). By the end of next month, 160 new CDCs will have opened since 2021, with this target being reached one year ahead of schedule. This includes West Berkshire Community Hospital, which was officially designated a diagnostic centre following £3 million Government investment. It now has a state-of-the-art CT scanner, new X-ray machines and MRI scanners. The mobile mammography service at the Community Hospital will also be returning in May and will be on site for 18 months. During this time all women registered with a GP aged 50 – 70 will be invited to attend for their three yearly mammogram to detect breast cancer.
Preventative care and the incorporation of technology in medicine have been driving forces of the Government’s plans to improve health outcomes and speed up diagnosis. CDCs represent the biggest expansion in MRI and CT scanners in the history of the NHS, and last year the Government published the first ever Medical Technology Strategy to accelerate patient access to new innovative technologies. Government investment into medical research, for instance the £160m funding commitment per year for dementia research, has enabled progress in the development of new treatments for some of the most common and debilitating health conditions. Whilst there is always more progress to be made, this is a proud record on delivering improvements in health outcomes and survival rates for patients.