An ageing Welsh population will put increasing strains on the NHS, new research has predicted.

UK Association of Cancer Registries' statistics released by Cancer Research UK on Thursday showed that the principality has both more elderly people and the highest number of cancer cases per head of all the UK nations.

Experts forecast that the Welsh population is set to get older still in the next 20 years, requiring more resources to be diverted to the NHS to pay for expensive cancer treatments.

Wales has 17 per cent of its population aged over 65, compared to England and Scotland which have 16 per cent and Northern Ireland with only 13 per cent.

This demographic inequality is set to increase, with the Welsh and Scottish proportion over 65 increasing to 23 per cent of the population by 2024.

In England the figure is likely to rise to 21 per cent over the same period, and in Northern Ireland to 19 per cent.

The Cancer Registries' statistics show a strong link between the number of elderly people and cancer rates.

In Wales incidences of cancer are currently at 527 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 495 in Scotland, 456 in England and 385 in Northern Ireland.

Demands

Cancer Research UK director of clinical and external affairs Professor Robert Souhami said ministers must continue to invest in the work public health bodies such as cancer registries in a bid to help forecast the demands on the NHS.

"Cancer is becoming much more common as people live longer and longer, and the situation will be worst in particular areas of the country where there are increasing numbers of older, retired people," he said.

"We're going to need to keep a careful track of increasing cancer rates in different areas, because it's pretty clear that some places are going to need more resources if they're to cope with the extra burden.

"The figures also highlight the importance of finding better ways to prevent cancer, so that we can work on reducing the expected increase in cancer incidence."

Welsh health minister Jane Hutt used a speech at a Wales against Cancer conference, where the figures were presented, to promise to bring standards up to "a par with the best in Europe".

"We are investing in prevention initiatives for young people and smoking cessation support for smokers who want to give up. We are also looking at the issue of environmental tobacco smoke," she said.

"Two other lifestyle factors which are very important in cancer prevention are nutrition and exercise. It is estimated that diets high in fruit and vegetables and low in refined foods, combined with regular physical activity, have the potential to reduce cancer incidence and mortality by between 30 and 40 per cent.

"The Welsh Assembly Government is currently implementing a number of initiatives to encourage healthy eating and increase levels of physical activity among those who are least active.

"Health Challenge Wales, our national focus for efforts to improve health and prevent ill-health, emphasises that everyone has a role to play in protecting and improving health in Wales."