A statement from Yorkshire Cancer Research on the Darzi NHS Review

Findings from the Darzi Review confirm there is still a long way to go to improve the early diagnosis of cancer. While more recent figures show some improvement, cancer care and outcomes in the UK still significantly lag behind other countries.

That's why Yorkshire Cancer Research is calling for a long-term cancer plan as part of its Change Yorkshire's Cancer Story campaign. Within this campaign, the charity is asking the Government to make early diagnosis a priority, so that more people can access pioneering screening services and more lives can be saved.

Research has found that having a consistent national cancer policy positively correlates with improvements in cancer survival.

Yorkshire has higher rates of cancer and cancer-related deaths compared to the national average. People living in areas of greater deprivation are also at higher risk of cancer and have worse outcomes of treatment. A joined-up approach to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, outlined in a well-funded nationwide cancer strategy, is vital to ensure that everyone has equal access to cancer care, no matter who they are or where they live.

The charity has been highlighting the lack of progress to improve rates of early diagnosis for some time. Currently, 1 in 2 cancers in Yorkshire are diagnosed at a late stage when it’s often harder to treat. The NHS long term plan has set a target for 75% of all cancers to be diagnosed early by 2028. However, analysis from Yorkshire Cancer Research reveals that Yorkshire will miss this target by seven years without dedicated cancer policy. The Change Yorkshire’s Cancer Story survey showed that over half of respondents consider early diagnosis to be the number one priority for improving cancer outcomes in Yorkshire.

We urge the Government to act on the findings of the Darzi Review and commit to a long-term cancer strategy, so that more people in the region can live longer, healthier lives, free from cancer.