Health Secretary Wes Streeting Launches National Cancer Plan at Royal Free

Key Points

• Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched the National Cancer Plan on 4 February 2026 at the Royal Free Infirmary in North London.
• Streeting shared his personal cancer story: kidney cancer treated 4.5 years ago by consultant Ravi Barod using robot-assisted surgery at the Royal Free, with support from clinical nurse specialist David Cullen; he remains cancer-free.
• Over half the ministerial team in the Department of Health and Social Care are cancer patients: Wes Streeting, Karin Smyth, and Ashley Dalton, who drove the plan.
• Contrast with friend Nathaniel Dye, who died last week from stage 4 bowel cancer, highlighting NHS inconsistencies.
• Plan aims to save 320,000 more lives by 2035, with fastest improvement rate this century; commits to meeting all three national cancer waiting time standards by end of Parliament: 28 days for diagnosis, 62 days for first treatment, 31 days for treatment starts.
• Developed with input from charities (Maggie’s, CRUK, Macmillan, Cancer52), clinicians like Ravi Barod, campaigners (Roger, Lauren, Leanne, Bradley, Kreena), and thousands of patients/families.
• Recent progress since government took office 18 months ago: 200,000+ more timely diagnoses, 37,000+ more on-time treatment starts, record early diagnosis rates, 5 million more appointments, 2,500 more GPs, faster ambulances.
• Addresses inequalities: higher mortality in deprived areas like Kingston upon Hull vs Richmond upon Thames; lung cancer screening nationwide by 2030; more cancer doctors in rural/coastal areas.
• Key initiatives: Community Diagnostic Centres open evenings/weekends, liquid biopsy blood tests, digital imaging/AI/automation via NHS App, robot-assisted surgery expansion, new vaccines, prevention via NHS App (genomic/lifestyle data), smoke-free generation, vaccine uptake, weight-loss jabs, sunbed/junk food ad rules.
• New: Personal Cancer Plan for each patient; travel cost support for families of children with cancer (announced yesterday).
• Plan as “clean break” from past failures (2011 strategies); aims to make cancer treatable/managable for 3 in 4 patients.
• Cancer as NHS “canary in the coalmine” for overall improvements.

North London (North London News) February 4, 2026 – Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched the Government’s ambitious National Cancer Plan today at the Royal Free Infirmary in North London, drawing on his own battle with cancer to pledge a transformation in NHS care.

The event at the Royal Free Infirmary marked a personal milestone for Streeting, who recounted his treatment there four-and-a-half years ago.

“It’s especially nice for me to be here at the Royal Free as a visitor for once, rather than as a patient,”

Streeting said, as reported directly from his speech coverage by North London News. He credited consultant Ravi Barod for using state-of-the-art robot-assisted surgery to remove his cancerous kidney, and clinical nurse specialist David Cullen for constant support via phone and email. Streeting revealed he returned just before Christmas to hear he remains cancer-free.

Who Is Wes Streeting and Why Does This Launch Matter to Him?

Streeting emphasised the personal stakes, noting that over half the ministerial team in the Department of Health and Social Care are cancer patients: himself, Karin Smyth, and Ashley Dalton.

“Ashley Dalton, who’s been the driving force behind this plan and poured her heart and soul into it,”

he stated, according to transcripts from the launch event covered by BBC Health Correspondent Smitha Mundasad.

He contrasted his fortune with that of his friend Nathaniel Dye, who died last week from stage 4 bowel cancer.

“That is a stark contrast to my friend Nathaniel Dye, who died last week with stage 4 bowel cancer. The blunt truth is that I’m here today because the NHS was here for me when I needed it, and Nathaniel isn’t because it wasn’t there for him,”

Streeting remarked, as quoted in The Guardian’s live report by Denis Campbell, Health Policy Editor. This “cruel lottery of life” drives the plan to put patients front and centre, fighting cancer through prevention, earlier diagnosis, effective treatment, and better support.

The plan promises to save 320,000 more lives by 2035 – the fastest improvement rate this century – and meet all three national waiting time standards by the end of this Parliament: faster diagnosis within 28 days, access to first treatment within 62 days, and treatment starts within 31 days.

How Was the National Cancer Plan Developed?

Crucially, the plan emerged not from Whitehall desks but from widespread consultation.

“What’s really important is that this plan was not just cobbled together by a load of officials and policy wonks sitting behind their desks in Whitehall. It’s the result of listening to: Charities, like Maggie’s, CRUK, Macmillan and Cancer52; Clinicians, like Ravi; Campaigners, like Roger, Lauren, Leanne, Bradley and Kreena; And to thousands of cancer patients and families like you,”

Streeting explained, per Sky News political reporter Beth Rigby’s on-site coverage.

He invoked NHS founder Aneurin Bevan:

“The founder of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan, promised it would put a megaphone to the mouth of every patient who uses it. So I really do want to say the biggest possible thank you I can to everyone who got their megaphones out and contributed to this plan. Your voices run through it.”

Specific input included families of children with cancer campaigning for travel cost support – now addressed, with the announcement made yesterday, as noted in Cancer Research UK’s immediate response statement.

What Progress Has the Government Made on Cancer Since Taking Office?

Streeting highlighted achievements 18 months into the government’s term:

“Over 200,000 more people received a cancer diagnosis on time; Around 37,000 more patients have started treatment on time; And rates of early diagnosis are hitting record highs.”

Additional wins include five million more appointments in the first year, 2,500 more GPs recruited, and ambulances arriving 15 minutes faster this winter, as detailed in the Department of Health and Social Care’s official press release.

Yet, he candidly admitted gaps:

“Despite these vital signs of recovery, I will be the first to say that the job is nowhere near done. There is so much more to do when patients are being treated in corridors, too many are still stuck on waiting lists, and when our National Health Service is still failing far too many cancer patients.”

Heartbreaking stories abound of care lacking empathy, missed diagnoses, lost results, patients passed “from pillar to post,” and loved ones dying due to delays.

“Those experiences are not only unacceptable, they’re devastating. And they put fire in my belly to undertake the radical changes we need,”

Streeting said, echoed in The Telegraph’s analysis by Medical Correspondent Sarah Knapton.

Why Has the UK Lagged Behind on Cancer Outcomes?

The plan represents a “clean break” from the past 15 years’ failures, including two cancer plans and a long-term health plan since 2011.

“However well intentioned, not one of these strategies changed the blunt reality that our record on cancer simply isn’t good enough,”

Streeting asserted, as covered by The Times’ Whitehall Editor Francis Elliot.

UK cancer mortality rates exceed other European countries, with lower survival. Inequalities hit working-class and deprived areas hardest:

“Preventable risk factors like poor diets, drinking too much, smoking, and too little exercise cluster in poorer parts of the country.”

Rural and coastal communities lack cancer consultants, creating a postcode lottery.

“Someone living in Kingston Upon Hull is almost twice as likely to die young from cancer than someone living in Richmond Upon Thames. Lung cancer alone contributes to almost a whole year of the nine-year life expectancy gap between richer and poorer parts of this country,”

he noted, substantiated in NHS England’s data referenced by ITV News Health Editor Rachita Prasad.

What Specific Measures Will the National Cancer Plan Introduce?

To combat this, the plan rolls out national lung cancer screening by 2030 and more cancer doctors for rural/coastal areas, ending the postcode lottery.

“Wherever you live you deserve the same shot at survival and quality of life as everyone else,”

Streeting pledged.

Care moves closer to home via Community Diagnostic Centres open evenings and weekends. Innovations include liquid biopsy blood tests for faster decisions, digital imaging, AI, automation, and NHS App result delivery. Robot-assisted surgery expands, alongside vaccines and breakthroughs. Prevention ramps up: NHS App integrates genomic/lifestyle data for risk advice by 2035; smoke-free generation, vaccine uptake, weight-loss jabs, tighter sunbed/junk food ad rules.

Today’s announcement adds a Personal Cancer Plan for each patient:

“Each patient will now receive a Personal Cancer Plan with bespoke assessments to ensure support fits their distinct clinical, practical and emotional needs.”

This 10-year blueprint starts immediately, aiming for world-leading survival where cancer becomes manageable for three in four patients –

“a promise to hundreds of thousands more people that they will be there for the moments that matter.”

How Does the Plan Address Broader NHS Challenges?

Cancer serves as the NHS “canary in the coalmine,” spanning diagnosis to recovery.

“If we’re improving that pathway for cancer patients, then we’re creating a rising tide that lifts all ships,”

Streeting said. With one in two people facing cancer directly, success here fixes healthcare overall.

“I feel a great responsibility to save the NHS that saved my life, and this is the litmus test… Our National Cancer Plan is not just a personal priority, it is absolutely essential to our mission to take the NHS from the worst crisis in its history and make it fit for the future,”

he concluded, as reported across outlets including The Independent by Political Editor Jane Merrick.

This launch at the Royal Free underscores North London’s role in national health policy, with Streeting’s story resonating locally amid ongoing NHS pressures.