Wessex Cancer Innovation Programme and the CRUK Manifesto

We were really pleased to see that the recent manifesto from Cancer Research UK ‘Longer, better lives: A manifesto for cancer research and care’ published on 28 November 2023, has highlighted the important role of health innovation networks in improving cancer care and outcomes. The manifesto sets out how the next UK government could improve cancer outcomes and prevent 20,000 cancer deaths a year by 2040.

A joint initiative with Wessex Cancer Alliance, the Wessex Cancer Innovation Programme accelerates the transition of innovations into patient pathways that will help to detect and diagnose cancer faster. This includes supporting the rollout of C the Signs software across primary care in Dorset, to support clinical decisions for patients with suspected cancer, and the use of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) at University Hospital Southampton NHS FT to assist the detection of more lung cancers at an early stage.

The relationship between Wessex Cancer Alliance and Health Innovation Wessex has been strengthening and developing ever since our first co-funded innovation programme in 2020. We were the first health innovation network to partner with a Cancer Alliance, and our collaboration and success has since been mirrored across other networks over the last few years. We are proud to be a driving-force behind proven innovations into cancer diagnostic pathways.

It is great to see that CRUK’s Longer, better lives manifesto refers to the value of this partnership and encourages the relationship to be further nurtured and realised, owing to the potential and impact that has already been made apparent. Our plans are already very focused on innovations, and we know how valuable this partnership is to our population in helping people to receive earlier diagnosis of cancer and live healthier, longer lives.

Find out more about the Wessex Cancer InnovationProgramme

Read CRUK’s ‘Longer, better lives: A manifesto for cancer research and care’