Full list of 36 hospitals getting share of £30m to combat cancer and major conditions

Three dozen NHS trusts across England will receive a share of £30million to develop cutting-edge treatments and update equipment for diagnosing cancer and other major diseases.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the work would “help more patients get their lives back so they can share precious moments with their loved ones”.

Awards delivered through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) include £1.5 million for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust to open a new hospital pharmacy site which will investigate cancer vaccines.

A new ultrasound, MRI scanner and gene therapy laboratory will be rolled out at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, backed by £1.4 million. This will help deliver trials of new treatments for conditions including Parkinson’s and heart disease.

And the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Merseyside will also receive £786,000, boosting research at a major hub for experimental cancer treatment. This will explore new approaches including precision radiotherapy to target doses and minimise damage to healthy tissue.

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The announcement comes after a damning independent investigation into the NHS found the UK had “appreciably higher mortality rates than other countries”.

Lord Ara Darzi’s review also found the death rate among under 75s with cardiovascular disease had dropped significantly between 2001 and 2010, but progress then stalled.

Mr Streeting said: “As a cancer survivor, I know how devastating a diagnosis can be – and how important it is to get the right treatment as quickly as possible.

“Lord Darzi’s review into the NHS laid bare the appalling reality we face – the UK has higher cancer mortality rates than other countries.

“I am determined to turn this around. That’s why I’m tasking the most experienced scientific minds in the UK to help transform treatment for a range of diseases like cancer.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said the investment would help patients access innovative medicines earlier and maximise the UK’s potential to deliver vital clinical trials.

The UK’s outdated medical equipment such as scanners has often been blamed as one of reasons why cancer survival rates lag behind many comparable nations.

Great Ormond Street Hospital will also receive £1.3 million to improve its diagnostic equipment and advance its capabilities in surgical techniques.

And Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust will receive £1.1 million in funding for advanced MRI technology so patients can participate in studies at their regular clinic, reducing travel and increasing research capacity.

Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS England national director of transformation, said: “The NHS is determined to be at the forefront of the technological revolution, and this funding for projects including trials of advanced therapies in regenerative medicine and extending AI capabilities, is another step forward.

“Cutting edge research to improve the prevention, management and treatment of diseases – including cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s – has the potential to greatly improve patients’ lives.”

NIHR chief executive Professor Lucy Chappell said the investment would equip more trusts with the “high-quality equipment, technology and facilities they need to deliver cutting edge research that benefits the public”.

She added: “The NIHR is directing this funding so that it reaches the areas and people with the greatest need, giving more communities the chance to take part in life-changing clinical trials.

“This will not only benefit patients directly, but also support the economic growth of the country, helping to position the UK as an attractive place for innovative companies to invest in research.”