The government has unveiled a major plan to overhaul NHS cancer services in England, backed by a £2bn investment. The program aims to ensure that by 2035, 75% of patients are either cured or living well five years after their diagnosis. Ministers have pledged to meet all three national waiting-time targets by 2029. To support this, the Department of Health and Social Care is allocating £2.3bn to fund 9.5 million additional tests over the next five years.

The upgrade includes new scanners and digital tools, such as automated testing and robot-assisted surgery. Community diagnostic centers will also extend their hours, and patients will have better access to genomic tests, which map a person's DNA to find the best treatment.

The news comes as data from the charity Macmillan shows that roughly 1,200 people are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK, which is one person every 75 seconds. Additionally, an analysis by the Guardian revealed that three-quarters of NHS hospital trusts are currently falling short of cancer care standards.

While cancer charities welcomed the new strategy, some experts expressed caution. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King’s Fund, warned that the NHS might miss the 2029 targets without a fundamental shift in how the system works. She urged officials to focus on improving basic IT infrastructure and day-to-day patient care alongside the new technology.