News
NHS urges women to book a cervical screening as a third don’t take up vital offer
The NHS has issued a call for anyone eligible for cervical screening to come forward for a potentially life-saving appointment, with nearly a third, around 4.6 million, not taking up their latest test. The plea from senior NHS medics comes on the back of the health service sending a record number of invites for cervical […]
A record year for people receiving NHS cancer treatment
Thousands more people started vital treatment for cancer over the last year compared to before the pandemic, the NHS has said today. Over 320,000 people received treatment for cancer over the last year (Nov 2021 – Oct 2022) – the highest year on record, and up by more than 8,000 on the same period pre-pandemic. […]
NHS set to eliminate Hepatitis C ahead of rest of the world
The NHS is on track to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2025 thanks to a pioneering drug deal and a concerted effort to find people at risk, which is helping dramatically cut deaths five years ahead of global targets. Following a five-year contract worth almost £1bn to buy antiviral drugs for thousands of patients, deaths from […]
NHS makes progress on long waits despite winter pressures surge
The NHS has continued to cut long waits for care, as staff continue to contend with record demand for emergency care and increased flu cases in hospital, new figures show today. Hardworking staff continue to make progress on the most ambitious catch-up programme in NHS history, with elective waiting lists for 18 weeks and 18 […]
NHS fast tracks life-extending prostate cancer drug to patients
Around 9,000 men with one of the most advanced forms of prostate cancer will be eligible for a new life-extending treatment thanks to a fast tracked deal by the NHS. The NHS in England will become the first in Europe to roll out Darolutamide to patients whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of […]
NHS gives GP teams direct access to tests to speed up cancer diagnosis
Tens of thousands of cancers could be detected sooner each year thanks to a national roll out of fast-track testing, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard will announce today. NHS England is expanding direct access to diagnostic scans across all GP practices, helping cut waiting times and speeding up a cancer diagnosis or all-clear for patients. […]
NHS catching more cancers earlier than ever before
The NHS is diagnosing more patients with cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, according to new analysis. Last year (2021-2022), over 100,000 (100,461) patients were diagnosed with cancer at stages one or two when it is easier to treat – the highest proportion on record. Record numbers of people are getting checked for […]
NHS strikes deal for potentially life-saving breast cancer drug
The NHS will roll out an innovative, potentially life-saving treatment for one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer thanks to a new drug deal. Up to 1,600 women a year affected by high risk triple-negative breast cancer are set to benefit from the confidential deal struck by the NHS and the manufacturer. Pembrolizumab […]
NHS prostate cancer treatments surge in England
The number of men having treatment for prostate cancer has jumped by more than a quarter in England in one year, new NHS figures show today. Almost 4,000 men received prostate cancer treatment in August (3,898) compared to just over 3,000 in the same month last year (3,057). Announcing the increase, NHS Chief Executive, Amanda […]
NHS delivers record number of lifesaving cancer checks as long waits for care continue to fall
More people than ever before received a lifesaving NHS cancer check in August alongside continued progress against the elective recovery plan, new figures show today. Over a quarter of a million people (255,055) were checked following an urgent GP referral in August – the highest number since records began. Thanks to NHS awareness raising campaigns […]