Labour’s Plan to Transform Cancer Care – Action Starts Now

Anna Turley
Feb 4
2 min read

Today, on World Cancer Day, we reaffirm our commitment to tackling one of the UK’s biggest health challenges. After 14 years of Tory neglect, too many patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment, and cancer survival rates in the UK continue to lag behind our European and global counterparts. That must change.

That’s why Labour is driving forward an ambitious National Cancer Plan—a bold, long-term strategy to cut waiting times, invest in cutting-edge technology, and ensure every patient gets the care they deserve.

The Scale of the Challenge

Cancer rates are rising, with half a million cases projected each year by 2040. The Darzi Investigation has laid bare the extent of the crisis:

🔹 Cancer diagnoses in the UK have increased by nearly 100,000 cases since 2001.

🔹 The 62-day target for referral to treatment hasn’t been met in almost a decade.

🔹 In May last year, more than 30% of patients waited over 31 days to begin urgent radiotherapy.

🔹 Patients in underserved areas are more likely to be diagnosed in emergency settings—when it’s often too late.

We cannot accept this as the status quo. Labour will fix cancer care—just as we did the last time we were in government.

Labour’s Plan for Change

💡 Early Diagnosis & Screening – From March next year, 100,000 more people per year will be diagnosed within 28 days, and 17,000 more patients will start treatment within two months of diagnosis.

💡 Investment in Treatment – We are committing £70 million to replacing outdated radiotherapy machines with modern, efficient models.

💡 Cutting-Edge AI Trials – Nearly 700,000 women will take part in a groundbreaking AI-driven breast cancer trial across 30 NHS sites, improving early detection and freeing up vital radiologists for more cases.

💡 Targeting Preventable Cancers – We are tackling smoking-related cancers through an improved Tobacco and Vapes Bill, working towards a smoke-free UK and reducing 80,000 preventable deaths.

A 10-Year Plan for the NHS

Labour’s Ten-Year Health Plan will go further than quick fixes. We will:

🔹 Drive groundbreaking research into new treatments and early detection methods.

🔹 Streamline NHS bureaucracy to empower local healthcare providers.

🔹 Expand the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce to improve early diagnosis and specialist care.

Labour Has Done It Before – And Will Do It Again

The last Labour government proved that real change is possible:

✅ We cut cancer waiting times.

✅ We invested in more radiotherapy machines—many still in use today.

✅ We banned smoking in public places, reducing second-hand smoke exposure.

✅ We funded groundbreaking cancer research, improving survival rates.

Now, we are ready to do it again. No more delays, no more excuses—Labour is ready to act.