New NHS tool to fast-track diagnosis, cut delays, and boost survival rates as part of digital health overhaul … reports Anasudhin Azeez
Millions of cancer patients across the UK are set to benefit from faster diagnoses and more coordinated treatment as the government unveils Cancer 360—a revolutionary new digital tool designed to transform how clinicians manage and treat cancer cases within the NHS.
Launched as part of the government’s sweeping Plan for Change, Cancer 360 consolidates complex patient data from fragmented systems into one central platform, allowing doctors to prioritise patients most in need and make decisions more quickly. The tool is expected to dramatically reduce delays, minimise paperwork, and support better survival outcomes across the country.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting hailed the innovation as a “lifesaving reform” that embodies the government’s commitment to modernising the NHS and restoring public trust. “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,” he said.
Cancer 360 is set to be introduced across all NHS trusts following successful pilots at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Royal United Hospital Bath. It stands as a pillar of the government’s commitment to digital-first healthcare—placing patients, performance, and progress at the heart of a modern NHS.
“Cancer 360 is not just a digital dashboard—it’s a gamechanger that gives clinicians the complete picture, enabling them to deliver faster, smarter, and more effective care.”
Currently, cancer patients often endure a confusing and time-consuming journey, navigating numerous appointments, scattered medical records, and administrative inefficiencies. Cancer 360 eliminates those hurdles by integrating all relevant patient information—test results, imaging, appointments, notes—into one secure, real-time system.
Where clinicians once relied on spreadsheets, paper files, and delayed email chains, they now have a clear, instant overview of each patient’s pathway, empowering them to act swiftly and decisively.
Suraiya Abdi, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, where the tool has already been piloted, said:
“The implementation of Cancer 360 has enabled my team to monitor and safely carry our patients through their cancer pathway. We’ve seen a marked improvement in team performance and, most importantly, the patient experience.”
The benefits are clear: more effective team collaboration, fewer administrative burdens, and a significant reduction in missed red flags.
Built into the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP)—a secure, centralised digital infrastructure—Cancer 360 exemplifies the shift from analogue to digital healthcare delivery. The FDP has already enabled hospitals to perform 70,000 more procedures and reduce unnecessary hospital stays by 19% since April 2024.
The investment forms part of the Autumn Budget’s £26 billion NHS package, which includes £1 billion for digital transformation and £121 million specifically for data-driven tools. While financial investment is crucial, ministers stress that reform is the real driver of change.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “I’ve seen first-hand the heartbreak that cancer causes. For too long, life-saving diagnostics relied on outdated systems—post-it notes, misplaced forms. Cancer 360 will end that era, ensuring clinicians have what they need to save lives.”
With over 2 million people currently living with cancer in the UK, the stakes for reform have never been higher. Lord Ara Darzi’s recent review labelled the NHS in “critical condition”, urging immediate improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
By enabling personalised treatment plans, tracking patients in real time, and escalating urgent cases with speed, Cancer 360 is expected to help reverse years of stagnation in cancer survival rates and align the UK with global leaders in oncology care.
Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS National Clinical Transformation Director, said: “Every cancer patient deserves swift, effective care. Cancer 360 allows us to identify delays and address them before they harm outcomes. It’s already changing the way we treat cancer—and changing lives.”
The rollout of Cancer 360 follows major updates to the NHS App, which has saved 5.7 million staff hours and helped avoid 1.5 million missed appointments since July 2024. It’s also part of a broader life sciences push, including new trials for AI-driven skin cancer diagnostics and injectable forms of breakthrough treatments like nivolumab.
This tech-forward strategy not only improves care but also fuels economic growth, with Prime Minister-led plans to use NHS data to fast-track clinical trials and bolster the UK’s global standing in health innovation.
The government reports it has already delivered 3 million extra NHS appointments—six months ahead of schedule—and waiting lists have fallen for six consecutive months, down by 219,000 since July 2024. With the continued rollout of Cancer 360, ministers are confident the NHS is finally turning a corner.
As Wes Streeting concluded: “We inherited a broken NHS, but our Plan for Change is putting it back on its feet. Tools like Cancer 360 are how we’ll save lives and ensure that no patient waits longer than necessary for the care they need.”
