Millions of cancer patients across the UK are set to benefit from faster diagnoses as the government introduces Cancer 360, a pioneering new technology being rolled out across the health service as part of its Plan for Change.
Backed by a £2bn tech investment from the Autumn Budget, the new technology aims to cut treatment delays and boost survival rates as part of wider NHS reforms, and will soon be rolled out across all NHS Trusts across the UK. It highlights the government’s push to modernise the health service by replacing outdated analogue systems with digital technology.
Cancer 360 will be built into the NHS’s Federated Data Platform, bringing patient information together from separate systems into one secure environment so clinicians can prioritise those most in need and schedule appointments quickly. Since April 2024, hospitals using the platform have carried out 70,000 more procedures and cut unnecessary stays by nearly 19 per cent, increasing capacity and freeing up beds.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This government grasped the nettle and made difficult but necessary choices to invest £26 billion into our NHS – a move that is already helping millions of patients and will help millions more.”
“It’s a long road, but we’re already getting our NHS back on its feet, giving patients over 3 million more appointments, hiring 1,500 new GPs and starting the roll out of new tech that will save lives,” Streeting added.
Cancer 360 was successfully piloted at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and the Royal United Hospital in Bath, and is expected to benefit millions of patients over the next five to ten years. Patients will experience faster diagnoses, reduced waiting times, and more coordinated care throughout their cancer journey.
Suraiya Abdi, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, praised the tool’s impact on both staff and patients. She said: “The tool has reduced the amount of admin time spent by our cancer team, enabling them to focus on the patient journey. I have witnessed an improvement in performance, team spirit and most importantly, patient experience.”
The rollout follows Politician and Surgeon Lord Ara Darzi’s independent review, which found the NHS in a ‘critical condition’, with long waiting times and deteriorating national health. Cancer 360 is intended to be a direct response, aiming to bring all relevant patient data into a single, easy-to-access system for medical teams.
The platform will also reduce paperwork and administrative burden on NHS staff by replacing fragmented systems and manual data collection. Clinicians will be able to use a real-time dashboard to track patient progress, create personalised treatment plans, and ensure that no critical warning signs are missed.
Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, praised the move but stressed the importance of transparency and patient involvement, saying: “Cancer 360 has real promise, but it must be rolled out with transparency, equity, and a clear commitment to measuring impact in patient terms – shorter waits, earlier diagnoses, and better outcomes.”
“For Cancer 360 to succeed, patients must be reassured about how their data is used and given a voice in how new tools are introduced and evaluated.”
Cancer 360 forms part of the government’s wider National Cancer Plan, which also invests in new treatments and an expansion of clinical trials to deliver a more effective approach to cancer care.
Photo: Labour Party
