Innovation and digital

We are committed to transforming cancer care through new technology and innovative solutions. Our goal is to enhance patient outcomes, streamline healthcare delivery, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Innovation is a key part of the NHS 10 year plan. We will be working with our partners to deliver the move from analogue to digital technology by adopting innovative solutions to help transform Cancer services for the local population.

New technology is currently supporting the delivery of care all along the cancer pathway including the use of teledermatology, digital decision-making support tools and Robotic surgery systems. The NCA is constantly striving to identify opportunities to adopt new innovations as they arise.

In 2025, the NCA awarded more than £500,000 of funding to projects which will produce new and improved methods of finding and diagnosing cancer at an early stage across the North East and North Cumbria.

In partnership with Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC), the projects included using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help detect prostate cancer in Gateshead, raising awareness of skin cancer in rural and farming communities in County Durham and encouraging patients to attend hospital appointments in Northumberland, North Tyneside and North Cumbria.

Find out more about all these projects here.