Daily Insight: Not as late but still not great

Late diagnosis is one of the main reasons the UK’s cancer performance is worse than other countries.

This was acknowledged in the 2018 long-term plan, which set a target of diagnosing 75 per cent of cancers at the milder stages one and two by 2028. The position stood at 55 per cent at the time.

The latest data, halfway to 2028, puts national performance at 58.1 per cent – an improvement but nowhere near halfway to the target.

An HSJ analysis broken down by England’s 21 cancer alliances shows that while the top areas have seen significant improvement, the proportion in the lowest performing areas has hardly moved.

In fact, the gap between the highest and lowest performing areas is nearly twice as big in 2023 as 2018 as more successful areas pull away on this measure.

The NHS England data doesn’t take account of deprivation and the difficulties this can imply for hard-to-reach communities and smoking rates but this suggests these people have not been prioritised for screening.

The announcement of a national lung cancer screening programme this week was good news for the sector – although the details around funding from the Department of Health and Social Care were typically and suspiciously vague.

The targeted lung health check programme has already been running successfully for several years now in the highest risk areas with a good record of reaching the most deprived.

The DHSC admitted when asked that the national programme would not be fully up and running until 2029-30, when it is expected to have an annual cost of £270m. That officials could furnish no answer to questions about the budget for even the current year doesn’t bode well for a lasting commitment.

Opening the bank to the bank

A trust led by a national director is to fund lump sum payments to bank staff, despite this not being covered in the national pay deal.

Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust will give one-off payments to bank staff who have worked regular shifts, in a local agreement with Unison.

This is despite the trust, led by NHSE elective care director Sir Jim Mackey, being under “no obligation” to fund the lump sum payments and the government refusing to do so.

As previously revealed by HSJ, the one-off payments offered under the NHS pay deal for 2022-23 will only apply to those staff directly employed by trusts under Agenda for Change contracts. That means many bank staff, who are typically not directly employed by NHS trusts, are set to miss out.

Sources have told HSJ they were surprised by the move, saying there was a general understanding that trusts should “hold the line” and withstand pressure to make the payments.

Northumbria Healthcare, a strong financial performer which would have more ability to fund the payments than other providers, said it is following all the national guidance on bank worker payments.