Awareness, Early Diagnosis and Screening

Our work is driven by the NHS Long Term Plan’s ambitions for cancer, aiming to ensure that by 2030, three out of four cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, survival rates continue to improve, and the gap in early diagnosis between the most and least deprived communities is narrowed.

Our work spans the entire early diagnosis pathway, with a particular emphasis on raising awareness in communities facing health inequalities, supporting innovative screening initiatives, and strengthening primary care engagement.

We work closely with Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria to pilot and implement new approaches, ensuring that our efforts are informed by the latest evidence and best practice.

Our programme plan for 2025/26 sets out targeted interventions across major tumour groups—including lung, bladder, colorectal, head & neck, and cervical cancers. These include:

• Expanding lung cancer screening and improving uptake in high-risk populations
• Piloting behavioural science-based awareness campaigns
• Supporting self-referral pathways for diagnostic tests
• Addressing inequalities in bowel and cervical screening
• Raising awareness of genetic testing opportunities, such as BRCA for the Jewish community
• Embedding quality improvement resources and education for primary care teams

An Early Diagnosis Steering Group oversees our programme of work including key projects. Each workstream is underpinned by robust data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to continuous learning. Progress is monitored through quarterly highlight reports, with risks and issues escalated as needed to ensure effective delivery.