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Why screening must become a priorty this World Cancer Day
Early diagnosis can improve survival by up to 80% in some cancers, yet far too many people are still missing out on life saving screening at the right time. This World Cancer Day is a clear reminder that screening inequalities can no longer be accepted.
Why national investment in screening matters now more than ever
Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect cancer earlier, reduce the need for intensive treatment and improve long-term outcomes. Around 40% of cancers are currently preventable, meaning thousands of lives can potentially be saved by taking proactive measures to prevent cancer developing.
But access is still uneven. Where a person lives, their background and their confidence in engaging with services all shape whether they are diagnosed early or diagnosed late. The impact of these differences is both preventable and profound.
Today the National Can Plan is published, national attention is shifting from ambition to action. The plan sets out how the government intends to improve cancer prevention, earlier diagnosis and treatment across England, based on the evidence gathered through its recent call for input. If we want to improve survival, reduce pressure across the system and close long-standing gaps, screening must be treated as essential national infrastructure. It needs stable investment, strong delivery partners and models designed around real communities.
Turning national ambition into real impact
The government’s new three-year Neighbourhood Early Diagnosis Fund signals a clear intent to strengthen early detection and reduce inequalities. The £200 million investment aims to increase uptake in areas with the lowest screening participation and help catch more cancers early, when treatment is simpler and outcomes are better.
The NHS is also progressing improvements to established programmes. More sensitive bowel screening is expected to detect around 600 additional cancers early each year and identify thousands of high-risk polyps before they develop into cancer. These steps show what is possible when evidence and policy work together.
As the National Cancer Plan launches, collaboration between public services, the independent sector and charities will be essential. Reaching people who have been historically underserved will require new thinking, with new partnerships and services built on accessibility and trust.
Xyla’s screening capability across pathways
Across the UK, Xyla supports screening across multiple programmes, including lung screening, bowel pathways, cervical screening outreach and high engagement, reaching communities that often face the greatest barriers. Our work spans:
Variety
A variety of screening, delivery and engagement programmes
Outreach
Outreach approaches that support cervical, bowel and breast screening pathways
Technology
Technology-enabled booking systems integrated with NHS pathways
Accessibility
Culturally sensitive information in multiple languages and accessible formats
Flexibility
Flexible community-based delivery models
Our multi-programme capability supports national priorities and meets local needs. By combining prevention, engagement and screening delivery, we help systems reach people earlier and accelerate progress in reducing inequalities and improving outcomes.
Lung cancer screening shows what can be achieved
Lung cancer screening continues to demonstrate the power of well-designed, locally delivered programmes. Working with integrated care systems in partnership with Alliance Medical, we have helped expand targeted lung cancer screening in Lancashire and South Cumbria and Shropshire with some of the highest levels of deprivation. This includes:
48,610 lung health checks delivered in the last 18 months
763 cancers detected, including 266 lung cancers, with most found at an early stage
More than 40,000 scans completed
97 per cent patient satisfaction
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw recently achieved 100 per cent rollout, meaning every eligible person has been invited. This milestone shows how equitable access becomes possible when services are tailored to local needs and supported by strong partnerships.
Under the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, lung cancer screening will expand further. Every eligible person will be invited within five years, no matter where they live. It is an important commitment that reflects the scale of what early diagnosis can achieve.
Designing screening around people, not structures
Every day, we see how accessible, flexible and community-focused screening services change lives. Our approach centres on:
Experienced nurse-led models
Technology-enabled pathways with real-time data
Scheduling that fits around work, family and daily life
These principles help remove barriers, improve uptake and reduce avoidable variation.
“Early detection is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve cancer outcomes. The expansion of screening under the National Cancer Plan is a critical step, but success will depend on delivery. Our experience shows that when services are designed to reach people effectively and equitably, screening saves lives and reduces pressure across the system.”
Catherine Hewson – Diagnostic and Screening Director
Now is the moment for collective action
The evidence is clear and investment is increasing. The National Cancer Plan will soon set a national direction for earlier diagnosis. What matters now is practical, collaborative action that ensures screening reaches everyone who needs it.
We welcome conversations with system leaders, commissioners and partners about screening, cancer prevention and ways we can work together to improve early diagnosis. Whether you are strengthening uptake, refining patient flow or exploring new approaches in underserved communities, we are here to support progress that feels real for patients and communities.
To support the shift from ambition to delivery, Acacium Group is convening a private, policy roundtable focused on the practical challenge of strengthening screening capacity across England.
The session will bring together system leaders involved in policy, commissioning and service delivery, alongside clinical and patient advocacy perspectives, to examine how screening programmes can be sustained and scaled in the context of workforce and diagnostic constraints, rising demand and persistent inequalities. The discussion will focus on system-level solutions to strengthen planning and delivery across existing and future screening programmes.
Partner with us to improve access to early diagnosis
If your organisation is working to make screening easier to access across local communities, we would be happy to speak with you. Fill in our short form below to get started.
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