Samantha Dixon, Member of Parliament for Chester North and Neston has welcomed the Government’s newly published National Cancer Plan, describing it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to improve cancer survival rates and transform care for patients and families locally.
Announced on World Cancer Day (4th Feb), the plan sets a new national ambition that three in four people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 will be cancer-free or living well five years later, backed by record investment in the NHS. Locally, the MP said the changes will mean earlier diagnosis, faster treatment and better ongoing support for patients across the constituency.
Key measures include £2.3 billion for millions of extra tests and scans, expanded community diagnostic centres offering appointments closer to home, and a major increase in robot-assisted surgery, helping patients recover more quickly and reducing pressure on hospital beds.
The plan also commits to ending long cancer waits, with the NHS expected to meet all cancer waiting time standards by 2029, after more than a decade of missed targets nationally. Hundreds of thousands more patients are expected to begin treatment within the 62-day standard as a result.
Importantly, every cancer patient will receive a Personalised Cancer Plan, covering not just treatment but mental health support, recovery and help staying in or returning to work. Patients will also be linked directly to trusted cancer charities through the NHS App and given a named care lead to support them after treatment ends.
Samantha Dixon said:
“A cancer diagnosis affects every part of a person’s life, and too many families in Chester North and Neston including my own, know that reality. This plan is about making sure people are diagnosed sooner, treated faster, and properly supported, not just through treatment, but beyond it.
“The plan also aims to reduce health inequalities by increasing access to specialist cancer care in rural and coastal areas, improving support for children and young people with cancer, and tackling the causes of cancer through action on smoking and junk food advertising.
“Built around patients and developed with the cancer community, this plan puts lived experience at its heart and it will save lives.”