On Wednesday (04.02.2026), the Secretary of State for Health published the National Cancer Plan for England: delivering world-class cancer care – an ambitious 10-year strategy aimed at transforming cancer outcomes across the country. The Plan sets out a bold vision for the next decade, including the ambition that by 2035, three in four people diagnosed with cancer in England will survive for five years or more or live well with the disease.
We warmly welcome this Plan and look forward to seeing it implemented in full.
A National Strategy for Earlier Diagnosis and Better Outcomes
A central focus of the Plan is driving earlier diagnosis, improving access to high-quality care, and tackling inequalities in outcomes across communities. Earlier diagnosis is particularly critical in lung cancer, where survival is significantly higher when the disease is found at an early stage.
What This Means for Lung Cancer
For those affected by lung cancer, there are some particularly significant commitments within the Plan.
National Roll-Out of Lung Cancer Screening
We are pleased to see that the plan reinforces the commitment to the Lung Cancer Screening Programme, with full national rollout expected by 2030. Expanding screening across England will help detect more lung cancers earlier – when treatment is more effective and survival chances are significantly higher.
This is a vital step forward.
Chest X-Ray Self-Referral Pilot
The Plan also commits to developing a Chest X-Ray self-referral pilot, designed to reduce barriers to diagnostic tests.
Self-Referral Chest X-Ray (SRCXR) services allow people with predefined symptoms of potential lung cancer to access a chest X-ray without first needing a GP referral. Centres delivering this work are already well established in Leeds, Manchester and Leicester, with growing interest elsewhere.
Dr Bobby Bhartia said:
“We know that people who are at most risk of lung cancer may find it hard to make appointments or to talk about their symptoms, often because of other responsibilities or sometimes they might feel judged by health services. We also know that for lung cancer, identifying the problem as early as possible really matters.
The self-request chest X-ray service allows those aged over 40-yrs with troubling symptoms related to their chest, such as a persistent cough, to obtain an X-ray without the need to first see their doctor. Since launching the service in Leeds over 10 years ago it has been used by over 12000 people. It has been a convenient and an effective way to reduce barriers for people to seek help and to get tested.”
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has long supported the wider rollout of self-referral chest X-ray services. We convene the national group for SRCXR services, bringing together clinicians and programme leads to share learning, evaluate impact and develop best practice. Through sustained advocacy and collaboration with partners across the health system, we have worked to ensure that reducing barriers to chest X-rays remains firmly on the national agenda.
Reducing barriers to testing is essential if we are to improve lung cancer outcomes and tackle inequalities in access to care. We will be seeking further detail from the Department of Health and Social Care on how this pilot will be implemented and scaled nationally.
Looking Ahead
The publication of the National Cancer Plan is an important milestone for cancer care in England. Ambition now needs to translate into action.
Improving survival in lung cancer depends on earlier diagnosis, faster access to treatment, and removing the barriers that prevent people from seeking help. We stand ready to work with partners across the health system to ensure this Plan delivers meaningful change for everyone affected by lung cancer.