Patients across the South East will benefit from faster diagnosis, earlier treatment and more personalised care as the NHS publishes its new national cancer plan today, setting out how services will continue to transform over the coming years.

The plan focuses on improving outcomes through earlier detection, modern diagnostics, cutting‑edge treatments and more joined‑up support for people living with and beyond cancer. In the South East, more people are being treated faster for cancer, with the plan set to accelerate innovation in robotics, AI and testing.

Latest data shows the South East is now ranked second in England for both the Faster Diagnosis Standard, with 78% of patients receiving a diagnosis or all‑clear within 28 days, and for the 62‑day referral‑to‑treatment standard. Half of the region’s 18 NHS trusts are already meeting the national 28‑day target, with all four Cancer Alliances working intensively to drive further improvement.

Dr Christopher Tibbs, Medical Director for the NHS in the South East, said:  

“This plan gives us a clear roadmap to go further and faster – and across the South East, we’re already showing what’s possible. From pioneering robotic surgery to new digital services that let patients book tests directly, our teams are delivering innovation that saves lives.

“We know there is more to do, but with this plan we will take the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS in the region –  ensuring every patient, wherever they live in the region, gets early diagnosis, excellent treatment and the support they need to live well.”

Across the region, NHS teams are already delivering some of the most advanced cancer innovations in the country. Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust continues to lead the way in diagnostics, robotics and research, completing its 10,000th robotic‑assisted cancer surgery in November 2025 and using AI to help identify lung cancer earlier and more reliably.

The trust has also introduced a new rehabilitation service for patients recovering from major cancer surgery, improving physical recovery and quality of life, and opened a second dedicated oncology ward to meet rising demand. Its research portfolio includes trials showing some women with early‑stage breast cancer can safely avoid radiotherapy after mastectomy, and studies exploring how exercise during chemotherapy may strengthen the immune response. Also embracing robotic surgery is Maidstone Tunbridge Wells Trust in Kent with expanded robotic gynaecology oncology surgery, completing 123 procedures since October 2024 and reaching full theatre utilisation faster than any other UK or Irish hospital in the past five years.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) is also delivering major advances across the cancer pathway. The Rapid Intervention for Palliative and End of Life Care project has transformed palliative and end‑of‑life care, supporting more than 4,500 patients to receive personalised care at home and avoiding 19,400 unplanned bed days. The Suspected Cancer Pathway (SCAN), now standard across the region, is helping patients access tests and diagnose cancer and other serious conditions earlier for patients with vague symptoms such as fatigue or weight loss.

OUH is also pioneering 3D imaging and printing for head and neck cancer surgery, expanding early detection of anal cancers through new specialist equipment designed to help detect pre-cancerous cells at an earlier stage, and supporting people finishing treatment through new health and wellbeing events to help them to live well once their treatment is finished.

In Kent and Medway, Maidstone Tunbridge Wells Trust is one of just three sites in the country participating rolling out the NHS 111 straight to test initiative which enables women with “red flag” breast cancer symptoms to directly book appointments for a suitable clinic through NHS 111 online or the NHS App, bypassing the need to first see a GP.

31 Community Diagnostic Centres across the region have been speeding up tests and diagnostics – meaning people getting a diagnosis and starting treatment quicker. The West Kent Community Diagnostic Centre has delivered more than 300,000 tests since opening in 2023 and is helping relieve pressure on hospitals by moving routine tests into the community and enabling earlier diagnosis.

On the south coast in Sussex, a new breast screening unit opening today at Crawley Hospital is helping tackle health inequalities by improving access for one of the most deprived communities in the region, ensuring earlier detection and faster treatment for those at greatest risk.

£250m has recently been announced to build a new Sussex Cancer Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. The centre will become a state-of-the-art regional hub and treat up to 60,000 patients.

Andrea Lewis, Regional Chief Nurse for the NHS in the South East, added: “This plan gives our teams across the South East the momentum to keep improving care for people affected by cancer. Every day I see teams embracing new ways of working — from robotic surgery and AI‑supported diagnostics to services that let patients get tests more quickly and closer to home. One of the most powerful tools we have to beat cancer is screening, which is why campaigns like Love Your Cervix are so important in encouraging women to come forward for their cervical screening, helping us eradicate cervical cancer by 2040.

“These innovations and efforts are already changing lives, and this plan will help us spread that progress even further. Our focus is simple: earlier diagnosis, excellent treatment and compassionate support for every patient, wherever they live in our region.”