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<p>To achieve the NHS Long Term Plan ambition, we are modernising our world-renowned
cancer screening programmes by introducing faecal immunochemical testing into the
NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme and human papillomavirus as the primary test
in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.</p><p>NHS England is establishing rapid diagnostic
centres, which build on the 10 models piloted through the ‘Accelerate, Coordinate
and Evaluate’ programme, which have focussed on diagnosing cancers where patients
often present with non-specific symptoms and may go to their general practitioner
(GP) many times before being sent for appropriate tests. These will be particularly
important for the less-survivable cancers.</p><p>NHS England is extending lung health
checks, targeting clinical commissioning groups with the lowest survival rates. In
Greater Manchester introducing low dose CT health checks saw an almost five-fold reduction
in stage 4 disease, with 80% of cancers diagnosed at an early stage.</p><p>There will
also be efforts to continue to raise awareness cancer symptoms, lower the threshold
for GP referrals and accelerate access to diagnosis and treatment.</p><p>As set out
in the NHS Long Term Plan Implementation Framework, local systems are being asked
to create their five-year strategic plans to deliver the commitments in the NHS Long
Term Plan. Plans should be created by November 2019. System plans will then be aggregated,
brought together with additional national activity and published as part of a national
implementation plan by the end of 2019. These plans will include the less survivable
cancers.</p>
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