Have Your Say: 10-Year Cancer Plan for Humber and North Yorkshire

Residents across the Humber and North Yorkshire region are being invited to have their say on a national 10-year cancer plan that aims to save 320,000 more lives over the coming decade. The consultation, launched by the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, seeks views from patients, carers and the wider public on how cancer services should be shaped locally to meet the ambitious national targets set out by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The plan focuses on three key areas: improving early diagnosis rates, reducing waiting times for treatment, and enhancing support for people living with and beyond cancer. In the Humber region, cancer diagnosis rates at stage one and two currently lag behind the national average, meaning too many patients are being diagnosed at a later stage when treatment options are more limited. The ICB has identified faster access to diagnostic tests, including the expansion of community diagnostic centres in Hull, Beverley and Bridlington, as a priority for improving outcomes.

Locally, the plan would see investment in a new rapid diagnostic centre at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, providing patients with access to multiple tests and scans in a single visit rather than the current system of separate appointments spread over several weeks. Additional cancer nurse specialists would also be recruited across Hull Royal Infirmary and Scarborough Hospital to provide better support to patients during and after treatment. Screening programmes for bowel, breast and cervical cancer are also set to be expanded, with targeted outreach in communities where uptake is currently lowest.

The public consultation runs until 30 April 2026, with a series of drop-in events planned at venues across the region including Hull Central Library, Beverley Leisure Centre and Bridlington Spa. Online submissions can be made through the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB website. Dr James Sherwin, medical director at the ICB, said: "We want to hear from as many people as possible, particularly those who have direct experience of cancer services. Your feedback will directly shape how we invest in and deliver cancer care in this region for the next decade."