Health Secretary Alan Johnson has launched a comprehensive five-year plan to further improve NHS cancer services, supported by an investment of £370 million. Key elements of the strategy include focus on prevention, faster treatment, extended screening, fast-track drug approval and extended services for the increasing numbers of people surviving cancer.
The Government will look at how to make progress on helping people to quit smoking and decreasing skin cancer rates.
Breast cancer screening will also be extended to women from the ages of 47 to 73. The extension of screening from the current age range of 50 to 70 will mean checks for a further 200,000 women each year and will include an investment of £100 million in digital mammography equipment.
In addition, the NHS Bowel Screening Programme will be extended from 2010 to all men and women aged 70 to 75. There will be an increase in radiotherapy capacity over the next three years and investment of £200 million in new equipment and staff.
Earlier this year it also announced up to £300 million funding to cover a programme of immunisation against cervical cancer. Up to £100 million a year will be provided for vaccination and up to £200 million a year in the catch up programme.
The cancer reform strategy can be found at www.dh.gov.uk
