Cancer taskforce chief Harpal Kumar: 'We must plan ahead'

Patients are to be given the option to refer themselves for cancer tests, as part of an NHS England bid to diagnose an extra 10% of people early.

It said it would start testing new ways of speeding up diagnosis, including offering patients the option to book appointments directly with a hospital or testing unit ahead of seeing a GP.

Harpal Kumar is the chief executive of Cancer Research UK and head of a cancer taskforce that has been set up to focus on on better prevention, speedier diagnosis and better treatment and aftercare for all those with cancer.

He told the BBC that effective planning was needed as the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is expected to rise rapidly in the coming years.