Newly detected cancer cases and the number of people living with cancer are on the increase[i]. Affecting over 14 million lives each year, it now accounts for approximately 15% of all deaths globally[ii].
At a recent panel event hosted by Philips and The Spectator, the challenge this disease presents to the NHS, what should be done to alleviate pressure and how patient outcomes can be improved were discussed in detail. The clear consensus was that earlier diagnosis is key. However, with stretched resources and a declining workforce, the UK continues to lag behind its Western European peers with regard to cancer diagnosis times[iii] and, in turn, survival rates.
This raises the question, how do we design a healthcare system that facilitates early diagnosis? Technology is one solution that has the ability to drive efficiency and to create a more streamlined cancer diagnostic pathway.
Devolution of the NHS
The NHS is embracing technological innovation, and this is starting to spread throughout the system, but national solutions have a chequered history.
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