The government has today (Thursday 3 July) published its 10-year health plan, stating its commitment to “fully roll out lung cancer screening for those with a history of smoking”.
However, there remains little detail on when full implementation will be reached, nor confirmation of its long-term investment.
Chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Paula Chadwick, responds to the plan:
“We are pleased to see lung cancer screening explicitly recognised in the strategy. After years of campaigning by experts, charities, clinicians and parliamentarians, this inclusion reflects progress and momentum.
“However, whilst the plan commits to lung screening, it remains silent on when and how fast it will be rolled out – and this detail is most crucial.
“We already know that the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme is intended to cover 100 % of high‑risk individuals by March 2030, with around 40 % reached so far. Without clear timelines – even a phased annual trajectory – we risk stalling the programme and letting lives be lost unnecessarily.
“We can’t underestimate what’s at stake. Currently, around 76 % of cancers caught through screening are at stages 1 or 2 and are potentially curable but delays can reverse that progress.
“We urge the immediate publication of the National Cancer Plan, with details on lung screening roll out timelines.
“We also ask the government for its commitment to ensuring that by full roll out in March 2030, processes will be in place for Lung Cancer Screening to be alongside the other screening programmes, with funding administered through the section 7a agreement of the NHS Act (or future equivalent).
We at Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, alongside the lung cancer community, stand ready to support this plan’s delivery and look forward to the imminent publication of the full cancer plan.”