Seventy eight NHS trusts are to receive funding for new machines that will improve the patient experience and lead to earlier diagnosis of cancer.
The new technology is part of the Government’s commitment to ensure 55,000 more people survive cancer each year.
It follows Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s announcement last month of an extra £200m in funding for new cancer screening equipment.
The 78 trusts will receive funding over the next two years to replace, refurbish and upgrade CT and MRI scanners – bringing in alternatives with lower radiation levels – as well as improved breast screening imaging and assessment equipment.
Replacing and upgrading machines will improve efficiency by making them easier to use, quicker to scan and construct images, and by reducing the need to re-scan.
Cancer survival is at a record high thanks to better prevention, earlier diagnosis, and world-leading treatments in the NHS
Each trust has been allocated funding based on an assessment of local infrastructure and local population need.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “This new state-of-the-art equipment for 78 trusts across England will ensure doctors and clinicians can help even more people survive a cancer diagnosis and stop the disease as early as possible.
It’s mission critical that the technology our NHS uses to prevent and diagnose cancer is brought into the 21st Century.”
This new state-of-the-art equipment for 78 trusts across England will ensure doctors and clinicians can help even more people survive a cancer diagnosis and stop the disease as early as possible
Cally Palmer, national cancer director at NHS England, added: “Cancer survival is at a record high thanks to better prevention, earlier diagnosis, and world-leading treatments in the NHS.
”This major investment in the best modern scanning technology will benefit patients in every part of England, helping us to achieve the NHS Long Term Plan’s ambitions of catching tens of thousands more cancers earlier when they are easier to treat, saving 55,000 more lives every year.”
Click here for details of the trusts that will benefit.