News
One in five kidney cancer patients now diagnosed at stage 4
Kidney Cancer UK has published the results of its 12th annual patient survey, revealing the stark reality of a kidney cancer diagnosis in the UK. The findings of the report show that one in five (20%) kidney cancer patients are now diagnosed at the most advanced stage of the disease, reflecting the growing mortality rate over recent decades, increasing by 73% since the 1970s. The five-year survival rates in the UK are among
the lowest in Europe. The latest report from Kidney Cancer UK evidences the need for an overhaul of the kidney cancer care pathway, in line with the imminent introduction of the NICE guideline the charity campaigned NHS England for in Spring 2026 – which will define the quality agenda for kidney cancer services moving forwards. When looking at the time from first feeling
unwell and seeking medical advice to receiving a diagnosis, the survey results show almost a third (32%) of patients waited more than 3 months –
virtually no improvement from the previous year (34%). In the period before referral for diagnosis, more than one in four (26%) patients are initially diagnosed with a different condition, a marked increase on the previous year (21%). One in five (20.34%) kidney cancer patients
waited over 3 months to a year from feeling unwell before they sought medical advice – and a quarter (26.31%) of patients received an initial misdiagnosis, further delaying an accurate diagnosis that can be appropriately treated, influencing patient outcomes. Patients report feeling ‘dismissed’ when
symptoms are attributed to benign causes – commonly conditions such as kidney stones or UTIs - only to later discover kidney cancer, contributing to the percentage of late-stage diagnoses. Kidney Cancer UK is calling for a government
funded research strategy to develop a simple, inexpensive test for use in primary care. There is the persistent challenge of how to identify people with kidney cancer early. Currently, there’s no simple blood test or easy method of early detection. Within the next three years, the charity hopes to see a much more focused and strategic effort around research into early-stage kidney cancer – particularly into identifying biomarkers that could be measured easily. The charity also calls for better guidance, training, and awareness for GPs and healthcare professionals. View the full report at:
www.kcuk.org.uk
NHS launches AI and robot pilot to spot lung cancer sooner
Patients facing suspected lung cancer could get answers sooner under a new NHS pilot using artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology to help doctors reach hard-to-detect cancers earlier, with fewer invasive tests. The new approach uses AI software to rapidly analyse lung scans and flag small lumps that are most likely to be cancerous, and a robotic camera is then used to guide biopsy tools through the airways with far greater precision than standard techniques. The robot can reach nodules as small as 6mm — around the size of a grain of rice — hidden deep in the lung and often too risky or difficult to access using existing methods. Once AI has highlighted higher-risk areas, doctors can take a precise tissue sample, which is sent to specialist laboratories and reviewed by expert cancer teams to confirm or rule out cancer. For many patients, weeks of repeat scans
and procedures could be replaced with a single, half-hour cancer biopsy, reducing prolonged uncertainty and avoiding more invasive surgery. If shown to be effective, the technology could help transform lung cancer diagnosis as the NHS screening programme increasingly identifies more people with very small nodules that would previously have gone undetected until much later.
CSC annual conference tackles healthcare risks
The Central Sterilising Club (CSC) will consider risk at its Annual Scientific Conference. This year’s Kelsey Lecturer is Professor Didier Pittet. As WHO’s global ambassador for “Clean Care is Safe Care,” he led on the adoption of alcohol-based hand hygiene across the world. But how safe is safe care when applied to decontamination practice? The risk of fracture of multiply reprocessed
screws and plates was addressed by Scotland years ago. They adopted universal sterile single plates and screws. Other UK countries have found adoption much more challenging. So, how aware are Trusts and boards of the risks they carry? John Prendergast will discuss the Welsh approach to managing these risks. This year, CSC is also unveiling The Pioneers
Podium. Four companies will have eight minutes to showcase the innovations they believe could transform healthcare. Inspired by the Dragons’ Den,
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I March 2026
a panel of experts will challenge, probe, and explore each idea, while delegates cast their votes on where they would place their investment. Jim Tinsdeall will review the evolution of phaco handpieces, while Tracey Gauci will present the risks of making misinformed choices in this new world of sustainability, which will allow Michelle Sulivan to explore an evolution of understanding and the journey technology companies are making within environmental sustainability. Helen Griffiths will tell the tale of The Elves and the Shoemaker by suggesting that there is no magic with endoscope decontamination; Ronald Wassenburg also addresses endoscopes when he describes the challenges associated with complex devices. Ultrasound probes have no channels; Ursula May ponders whether these are the final frontier of risk for decontamination. Mett Smart will explore how UV-C disinfection can be a validated, reliable method for decontamination,
assessing both its efficacy and its suitability within regulated healthcare environments. Might this be the answer to Ursula’s questions? Sulisti Holmes however is taking us back to consider what is the optimal approach to cleaning in, “The Great Scrub Off.” There is plenty for decontamination leaders to consider, and Rob Warburton will unpack the risks and challenges facing those at the forefront of Decontamination. Technical pressures aside, it’s easy to become anxious about the well-being of the teams we rely on. Mat Moyo therefore turns our attention to psychological safety in healthcare. He explores how embracing imperfection – rather than fearing it – can strengthen trust, resilience, and create teams that thrive. Finally, the CSC will feature its annual debate:
“This house believes the UK should follow International Standards, rather than HTM’s.” To register and find out more, visit: https://
centralsterilisingclub.org/
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