Boris Johnson unveils £200m cash boost for new cancer screening equipment
2 min read
Boris Johnson has announced a cash boost of £200m for the NHS to fund new “state-of-the-art” cancer screening machines.
The Prime Minister said new MRI machines, CT scanners, and breast screening equipment would allow diagnosis and quality of care for cancer patients to “improve dramatically”.
The Department for Health said the pledge will fund 300 diagnostic machines in hospitals across England, which doctors will find “more effective and easier to use”.
The equipment will also “improve the quality of screening and speed of diagnosis,” they said.
The Government said the funding will come on top of the £34bn per year pledged by Mr Johnson and previously Theresa May until 2023/24, and will help towards its target to ensure 55,000 more people survive cancer each year.
The Prime Minister said: “The NHS is the best healthcare service in the world, and the treatment and care it provides is one reason cancer survival rates are at a record high.
“But too many lives are still being lost to this shattering illness. We can, must, and will do so much more for sufferers and their families.
“These new scanners will lead to quicker diagnosis, more screenings, and improved care for patients, giving brilliant NHS staff the tools they need to further boost survival rates.
“It’s my priority to make sure our NHS gets every penny it needs to provide the very best care - wherever you live, and whatever your condition.”
Ministers have also said that the new CT scanners will improve patient safety with lower radiation levels - a dosage reduction of 80-90%.
They will also have “improved reliability” and need less “downtime”, meaning fewer appointment cancellations, as staff can be better resourced.
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock said: “I want to see the way we fight cancer in the NHS transformed, so we can confront this cruel disease with the best facilities to give our family, friends and colleagues the greatest chance.
“I’m determined to get cutting-edge equipment into hospitals across the country so that clinical staff are equipped with the best technology available for patients.
“This will be the first step in reaching our ambition through the NHS Long Term Plan of becoming a global leader in cancer diagnosis, saving the lives of tens of thousands more people each year.”
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