NHS plan to achieve earlier cancer diagnosis and save lives

Patients are to be given the option to refer themselves for cancer tests, as part of an NHS England bid to diagnose an extra 10% of people early.

It said it would start testing new ways of speeding up diagnosis, including offering patients the option to book appointments directly with a hospital or testing unit ahead of seeing a GP.

The body will also fund further trials of a pioneering form of radiotherapy.

Currently, around 25% of cancer diagnoses are made too late.

The plans are part of a drive to improve cancer survival rates in England, which are below the European average, especially for people over 75.

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