The National Cancer Plan for England – an ambitious reform of an ailing service

The much anticipated National Cancer Plan was published 4 February 2026. (The National Cancer Plan for England: delivering world class cancer care.)

Perhaps unfortunately for the Health Secretary, its announcement was somewhat swamped by media coverage of Lord Mandelson’s self-destruction by association with the monstrous Epstein. Notwithstanding the news agenda, the plan sets out far-reaching ambitions for a service that for decades has failed to meet expectations.

The National Cancer Plan sets out how the Department of Health and Social Care intends to address severe failures in current services and how these will align to the wider objectives of the NHS 10-Year Plan.

It starts off bleakly enough, acknowledging that:

• Lord Darzi’s independent investigation concluded that the NHS is in a ‘critical condition’ and failing on almost every measure
• Cancer mortality rates in the UK are much higher than in other, comparable countries, while survival is lower
• Early diagnosis rates were flat for nearly a decade beginning in 2013 – and have only recently started to increase
• Since 2014, the headline cancer performance standard – that 85% of patients should start treatment within 62 days – has been missed

It is a hard take on what is by any measure an essential service and, as the plan acknowledges, is indicative of a healthcare system in considerable distress.

There is no shortage of ambition to improve cancer care: ‘It heralds a full modernisation of our approach to cancer care in this country, fit for the future. Over 10 years, this plan will propel us from a longstanding laggard to a genuine global leader in cancer.’

The plan promises:

• 75% of patients diagnosed from 2035 will be cancer-free or living well after five years, following record investment in the NHS
• Three in four people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 onwards will be cancer-free or living well after five years
• A £2.3 billion investment will deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029 -investing in more scanners, digital technology and automated testing
• Where possible, Community Diagnostic Centres will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week

Already, some commentators have doubted the ability of the NHS to meet many of the commitments in the plan. However, scepticism aside, it should at least be commended for its ambitions and the honest admission that there is something very amiss with the current situation.

There are a few specific actions for pharmacy that are worth noting, set out in the numerous ‘Action’ points in the plan:

A global leader in cancer outcomes by 2035

Action 11

We will increase awareness of cancer risk factors and cancer-specific health literacy… The British Oncology Pharmacy Association’s Let’s Communicate Cancer programme will continue to help community pharmacists to identify people with concerning signs – such as being regular buyers of cough medicines or indigestion relief – and signpost them for checks.

Action 29

Government, public health teams, primary care staff and Cancer Alliances will collaborate on HPV vaccine uptake… From 2026, they will promote new schemes to enable young people who missed out on the HPV vaccination at school to have it administered at their local pharmacy. All this will contribute to us delivering on our commitment to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.

Designing cancer care around people’s lives

Action 11

Community pharmacies are vital in the neighbourhood health service and will help our approach to reach into people’s local high streets. They will have an expanded role in cancer diagnosis, for example in offering first line tests to people who have symptoms which could indicate cancer.

From spring 2026, we will pilot a heartburn health checking service in a sample of community pharmacies – using the capsule sponge: a simple, non-endoscopic test for early oesophageal cancer and the precancerous condition, Barrett’s Oesophagus.

Participating pharmacies will be able to refer patients who meet certain criteria directly into secondary care for further investigation. They also have the means to identify risk proactively –for example, through loyalty card data on the most regular purchasers of heartburn medicines – and provide targeted information.

Link to the Cancer Plan here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-cancer-plan-for-england

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