1. Purpose of the report and policy context

1.1 This report presents information on local performance in terms of diagnosis and the early treatment of cancer (see Appendix 1). The report was requested by the HOSC Chair as improving cancer performance is both a national and a local NHS priority.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee note the contents of this report.

3. Context and background information

3.1 Improving the detection and treatment of cancer is both a national and a local priority. Lord Darzi’s 2024 Independent Investigation of the National Health Service notes that the UK continues to have appreciably higher cancer mortality rates than other countries. The Darzi report identifies an urgent need to improve national cancer diagnosis and to reduce waiting times for treatment. There are national cancer targets, including the 62-day referral to treatment standard, the 28-day faster diagnosis standard and the 31-day treatment standard.

3.2 Locally The Sussex Integrated Care Strategy, Improving Lives Together, lists improving cancer services as one of the five strategic priorities for Brighton & Hove: “we will complete the recovery of cancer services affected by the pandemic, improve performance against cancer waiting times standards and deliver the ambitions of the Long Term Plan to diagnose more people with cancer at an earlier stage, with a particular focus on disadvantaged areas and underserved communities where rates of early diagnosis and screening uptake are lower” (p37).

3.3 Appendix 1 to this report contains information provided by NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. This paper includes data on Sussex and Brighton & Hove performance against the national cancer targets as well as details of local plans to improve performance in some areas.

4. Analysis and consideration of alternative options

4.1 Not relevant for this information report.

5. Community engagement and consultation

5.1 None directly undertaken for this information report.

6. Financial implications

6.1 No direct financial implications identified as arising from this information report.

Name of finance officer consulted: Ishemupenyu Chagonda Date consulted: 05/11/2025

7. Legal implications

7.1 This report is on a topic which sits within this Committee’s remit as the body with responsibility for scrutinising provision of healthcare services in the area of Brighton & Hove. No legal implications have been identified in this ‘for noting’ report.

Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria Simpson Date consulted 5/11/2025

8. Equalities implications

8.1 There are significant health inequalities in terms of the incidence of cancer across different communities, screening and diagnosis, access to timely treatment and outcomes. People from the most deprived communities are less likely to use screening services, more likely to present as an emergency, and less likely to have positive outcomes than people from less deprived areas. Cancer incidence and mortality is also related to age, with more than 50% of cancer deaths in the over-75 age group.

9. Sustainability implications

9.1 None identified.

10. Health and Wellbeing Implications:

10.1 These are addressed in the body of the report.

Other Implications

11. Procurement implications

11.1 None identified.

12. Crime & disorder implications:

12.1 None identified.

13. Conclusion

13.1 Members are asked to note the measures being taken to improve the diagnosis and timely treatment of cancer locally.

Supporting Documentation

Appendices

1. Information provided by NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Background Documents

1. Lord Darzi’s report on the NHS (2024) Independent investigation of the NHS in England - GOV.UK