The Independent Sector’s Contribution Across the Cancer Pathway

The independent sector already plays an important and growing role in delivering high-quality cancer care for both NHS and private patients. Far from operating alongside the NHS, independent providers are an integral part of England’s wider cancer system, supporting patients at every stage of their journey.

Independent providers contribute across the entire cancer pathway, from prevention and risk assessment through to screening, diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship and research. They deliver NHS-funded care through national and local contracts, care for privately funded patients, invest in new technologies and facilities, and work alongside NHS clinicians to improve access, capacity and patient outcomes.

One in five NHS MRI and CT scans and half of all PET-CT scans are delivered by independent providers, with around 320,000 private cancer admissions taking place between 2022 and 2025, and chemotherapy now the second most commonly paid for healthcare treatment.

The contribution of the independent sector extends far beyond increasing capacity. Independent providers are helping to:

• Improve early diagnosis through community-based screening, rapid diagnostics and imaging.
• Reduce waiting times by providing additional diagnostic and treatment capacity for NHS patients.
• Deliver specialist cancer treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy and systemic therapies.
• Support people living with and beyond cancer through rehabilitation, psychological support and return-to-work programmes.
• Drive innovation by investing in new technologies and participating in clinical research and trials.

Many clinicians already work across both NHS and independent settings, helping to maintain consistent standards of care, share expertise and provide continuity for patients. Increasingly, patients themselves move between NHS and independent providers at different stages of their cancer journey, reflecting a healthcare system that is becoming more integrated and responsive to individual needs.

The case studies in this report demonstrate how independent providers are already supporting delivery of the Government’s ambitions through earlier diagnosis, faster access to treatment, improved patient experience and world-leading research.