Delivering for ovarian cancer
patients: how the new cancer
plan can deliver improvements
in ovarian cancer care in England

Report calls for urgent action to reduce the numbers of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer as emergencies and improve survival rates

A new research report from policy research centre, Future Health highlights the challenges facing ovarian cancer care in England, with over 4 in 10 women diagnosed with the condition following a visit to A&E. [1] Over 7 in 10 women of the 5,700 diagnosed annually are currently diagnosed late (at stage 3 or 4), impacting rates of survival.[2] The UK already has survival rates for ovarian cancer below the European average.[3]

The report was commissioned and funded by AbbVie but with research undertaken independently by Future Health. The analysis based on the National Ovarian Cancer Audit assesses progress on the quality of ovarian cancer care in the NHS in comparison with previous data published in 2024. The research, follows the publication of the Government’s National Cancer Plan last month that set ambitions for 75% of people to survive cancer for five years or more, and shows the scale of variation and challenge facing NHS services to deliver on these ambitions for patients with ovarian cancer.[4]

The following are the main findings in the research:

• Over 4 in 10 women with ovarian cancer had an emergency admission within the 28 days prior to diagnosis. The data reveal a variation of 22.1% in the proportion of patients admitted as an emergency prior to diagnosis between NHS Trusts
• 2% of women survived at least one year after diagnosis. There is an 18.7% variation in the one year survival rate recorded between NHS Trusts
• Over 1 in 4 women with stage 2 to 4 ovarian cancer received no treatment (surgery and/or chemotherapy) between one month before and nine months after the recorded date of diagnosis. There is a 25.8% variation in this treatment rate between NHS Trusts
• 66% of women with stage 2 to 4 (or unstaged) ovarian cancer, received platinum-based chemotherapy between one month before and three months after the recorded date of diagnosis. There is a 39.1% difference in this treatment rate recorded between NHS Trusts[5]

Positively across the four indicators analysed in the research there have been marginal improvements recorded since the previous year’s data. There has been a reduction in the number of emergency admissions prior to diagnosis as well as improvements in one year survival and the numbers of women on treatment.

However underneath the national picture there remain widespread variations in the quality of care and the improvement trajectory different Trusts are following.[6]

Future Health’s report calls for the Government’s National Cancer Plan to tackle late diagnosis and improve patient survival for ovarian cancer. Policy recommendations within the report include:

• Setting clear national targets for reducing the number of women with ovarian cancer diagnosed in emergency settings and improving early diagnosis rates
• Supporting local Cancer Alliances and Health and Wellbeing Boards to deliver public awareness campaigns on the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer
• Prioritise the development of a gynecological cancer manual, setting out best practice ovarian cancer care and scaling this across the NHS
• Ensuring that a refreshed NHS workforce plan includes investment in Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) to support patients and provide holistic care

Report author and Future Health Programme Director, Richard Sloggett said: ‘Our analysis finds that women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed too late and too often in emergency settings. There is a postcode lottery in care. Some parts of the country are making welcome progress but the data show that a number of NHS services are struggling to provide the care that patients need and deserve.

The Government has set welcome ambitions through the National Cancer Plan to improve five year cancer survival rates. The picture painted by this research makes a strong case for ovarian cancer to be prioritised for action as the Plan is now rolled out across the NHS. Improvements in diagnosis and survival from ovarian cancer should be a litmus test for whether the Plan is delivering for patients.’

Further reading 

The Ovarian Cancer State of the Nation report and data: https://www.natcan.org.uk/reports/noca-state-of-the-nation-report-2025/

The National Cancer Plan:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-cancer-plan-for-england

Previous Future Health Research on ovarian cancer: https://www.futurehealth-research.com/new-report-reveals-variations-in-quality-of-care-for-ovarian-cancer-patients-and-calls-for-urgent-action-to-improve-patient-outcomes-through-the-upcoming-nhs-cancer-plan/

[1] https://www.natcan.org.uk/reports/noca-state-of-the-nation-report-2025/

[2] https://www.natcan.org.uk/reports/noca-state-of-the-nation-report-2025/

[3] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/ovarian-cancer

[4] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/699ec931532c9ad91ebbcc64/national-cancer-plan-for-england-delivering-world-class-cancer-care.pdf

[5] Comparisons are based on the 2025 and 2024 National Ovarian Cancer Audit data. The 2025 Audit is available here: https://www.natcan.org.uk/reports/noca-state-of-the-nation-report-2025/; The 2024 Audit is available here: https://www.natcan.org.uk/reports/noca-state-of-the-nation-report-2024/

[6] Data in the National Ovarian Cancer Audit is published by Gynaecological Cancer System