Pioneering NHS initiatives in Kent and Medway and Sherwood Forest are reshaping how we detect and treat cancer, thanks to the use of data and digital tools
Cancer remains one of the NHS’s most persistent and complex challenges, and the latest Civica cancer pathways report makes that reality stark. Informed by healthcare experts, the report highlights that disconnected legacy systems, inconsistent data flows, and rising pressure to deliver faster and fairer diagnoses are turning operational friction into a strategic risk.
But amid these systemic pressures, two NHS pilot initiatives – at Kent and Medway and Sherwood Forest – offer a unique opportunity to learn what the future could look like. For NHS leaders striving to move beyond tech pilots to system-level change, these examples are real-world evidence that digital transformation can be effective when it starts with people and is powered by meaningful data.
Early detection through data: The Kent and Medway model
Lung cancer kills more people in the UK than any other cancer type, in part because it’s often detected too late. The Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) pilot at Kent and Medway tackled this head-on, using GP records to identify and invite high-risk patients aged 55–75 for low-dose CT scans.
The results were immediate and significant: within weeks, the programme had diagnosed a stage 1 lung cancer case – proof of concept that early intervention can save lives. This wasn’t just due to clinical capacity but also made possible by digital infrastructure already in place.
Using Civica Clinical Pathways software, the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance quickly adapted existing systems to support the new screening model. The platform integrates with primary care data to identify eligible patients and manage their journey efficiently, eliminating the need to build a new system from scratch.
This pilot is a real-world example proving that transformation doesn’t always require starting over. Repurposing existing platforms with the right flexibility can deliver rapid impact, particularly when the system is ready to act on the insights.
Equity by design: Sherwood Forest’s approach to additional needs
While Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance focused on early detection, Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust tackled a different but equally urgent problem: unequal experiences within cancer pathways.
Patients with additional needs, such as learning disabilities, mental health conditions or dementia, were often experiencing longer waits for diagnosis and treatment, but the trust couldn’t quantify the scale of the problem or address it consistently.
Using Civica Clinical Pathways, the trust introduced a flexible digital flagging system, allowing staff to identify patients with additional needs early in their cancer journey. This enabled tailored support, such as involving a learning disability nurse in consultations or adapting appointments around existing care routines.
The results were transformative. The average time from referral to diagnosis was cut by 50% and time to treatment by 40% for patients with flagged needs. Crucially, the process was co-designed with operational and clinical teams and informed by direct patient feedback.
This initiative demonstrates that equitable care doesn’t emerge by accident but must be deliberately designed into systems. To that end, timely and accurate data are essential.
The path ahead
Both the Kent and Medway, as well as the Sherwood Forest pilots, echo the broader themes highlighted in the latest Civica report on improving cancer pathways. A key insight is that transformation cannot rely on siloed, short-lived pilots; local systems need tools that are interoperable, scalable and able to flex around real-world complexity. It’s not enough for digital platforms to simply collect data – they must surface actionable insights at the point of care, enabling clinicians to make faster and more informed decisions.
Crucially, the report reinforces that technology works best when it’s co-designed with those who use it every day – clinicians, operational teams and patients alike. And, perhaps most importantly, digital innovation must be used to close gaps in care rather than entrench them. Sherwood Forest’s patient flagging system exemplifies this, ensuring that those with additional needs are no longer overlooked in the system but supported from the very start of their pathway.
These examples also show the value of rethinking how digital pilots are structured. Rather than launching standalone innovations that require new infrastructure and governance, both trusts built on existing platforms, reducing risk and accelerating adoption.
From pilot to practice
The NHS has no shortage of pilots, but the real test is what happens next. Kent and Medway’s approach is already being scaled across England. Sherwood Forest’s model offers a replicable blueprint for trusts facing similar equity and access challenges.
However, as the Civica report warns, the system must address “pilot fatigue” and commit to implementing proven solutions at pace. That means enabling Integrated Care Systems to invest in flexible and interoperable platforms, giving clinical teams the tools – and time – to use them well.
Whether it’s detecting cancer early or ensuring patients aren’t left behind due to unrecognised needs, both pilots show that the most impactful digital interventions are those built around real patient journeys, not abstract strategies.
That’s the future of NHS cancer care. And it’s not theoretical, it’s already happening. The question now is whether we have the will and leadership to take it from pilot to practice.
For more on how Civica Clinical Pathways is supporting NHS organisations to design smarter, more equitable care, visit civica.com.
