Ali Malik, Managing Director, North Central London Cancer Alliance, responds to the publication of the National Cancer Plan
We warmly welcome the publication of the National Cancer Plan and the ambition it sets for further improving cancer outcomes and care for all people with cancer.
We are excited to respond to the priorities and ambitions in the Plan, building on our progress to date in North Central London. In many respects our work already aligns to the Government’s three shifts – hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention – and our plans to increase innovation, partnership and prevention will boost the progress we are seeing.
We are ready to take on the stronger local cancer leadership role laid out in the Cancer Plan and can move quickly to begin implementation of the new operating model.
Thanks to the incredible work of NHS staff and our partnerships across NCL, we have made significant strides in improving our cancer outcomes and waiting times figures. Between 2010 and 2020 (latest available figures), our one- and five-year survival rates have improved by 8.4% and 5.9% respectively. Our early diagnosis, between 2018 and 2025, has improved by 9.8% and our 62-day standard for cancer waiting time improved by 18.2% in the last 12 months. Naturally, our aim is to continue to support improvement so that patients receive a timely diagnosis and treatment, have the best possible experience of care, and live well for as long as possible.
The Cancer Plan is our opportunity to consolidate our progress to date, as well as to push forward in delivering cancer care of the future. We will work to turn our innovation projects into everyday activity, to deepen our work across communities and at a neighbourhood level, and to implement digital cancer pathways.
Examples of how we are working towards meeting the Government’s ambitions:
- Close collaboration with and support for our Trusts to continue to work towards meeting the Cancer Waiting Times standards by the end of the Parliament.
- Enabling more care in the community and through emerging neighbourhood structures, for example through transformation of the skin pathway with the aim of establishing community image acquisition hubs.
- Collaboration with UCLPartners to bring innovation into cancer care. This includes innovation programmes in primary and secondary care, digital implementation support, and joint grant development with innovators to translate ideas into practice. For example, we are exploring the use of risk stratification tools at various points in the cancer pathway to support early diagnosis and the effective use of resources.
- Development of a cancer digital pathway, working with local innovators, industry partners and sector leads to identify and implement the most exciting and impactful digital innovations that will improve patient pathways and experience.
- Participating in the COMPASS pilot project in 2026 which is designed to target people who may have Barratt’s Oesophagus, a condition which could lead to oesophageal cancer. This test, provided in community locations, will help to reach those who are less likely to follow up on symptoms.
- Supporting the national rollout out of HPV self-sampling, starting later this year, to non-responders to cervical screening invitations. Our work with the North East London Cancer Alliance to test the viability of HPV self-sampling helped contribute to the evidence base that underpins this initiative.
North Central London healthcare leaders comment:
Professor Geoff Bellingan, senior responsible officer for North Central London Cancer Alliance and UCLH medical director for surgery and cancer
“The National Cancer Plan has confirmed the vital role that Cancer Alliances play in leading their systems to make improvements for patients. The North Central London Cancer Alliance team has successfully been working hard to support our area to significantly reduce cancer waiting times, seek ways to bring innovation into cancer care, manage the local Lung Cancer Screening programme, lead improvements in patient experience and build relationships with community organisations to raise awareness of cancer symptoms. The National Cancer Plan has set ambitious targets, but I believe we are in a strong position to meet them.”
Pete Landstrom, group chief executive, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
“We know how important it is for us to keep driving improvement across cancer care – and we’re seeing the results of this work at Royal Free London, with our cancer performance strengthening month on month. From early diagnosis and quick access to world-class treatment, to delivering personalised support, groundbreaking research and innovative care, we’re determined to go even further. But we also know that partnership is vital to meet the goals set out in the government’s National Cancer Plan. Working together through the NCL Cancer Alliance is one of the ways we can deliver on these ambitions and ensure the very best experience and outcomes for all our cancer patients from the very start of their journey.”