- Government announces National Cancer Plan to improve cancer care, speed up diagnosis and strengthen support for patients and families
- The Plan is backed by record investment in the NHS, aiming to ensure three in four cancer patients survive long term
- The Plan includes provision of a £10 million fund to help families to get to children’s cancer appointments, easing pressure at the most difficult times
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has welcomed the announcement of the National Cancer Plan, including a landmark dedicated chapter to children and young people.
A cancer diagnosis changes lives – not just for patients, but for families, carers and loved ones. Labour’s National Cancer Plan sets out a comprehensive, long-term approach to improving cancer care in England, with a relentless focus on earlier diagnosis, faster treatment and better support for everyone affected.
Backed by record investment in the NHS, the Plan represents the fastest improvement in cancer outcomes this century, with an ambition to save hundreds of thousands of lives over the coming years.
Earlier diagnosis and faster treatment
A central pillar of the National Cancer Plan is reducing delays at every stage of the cancer pathway. The government has committed to meeting all cancer waiting time standards by 2029, meaning more patients will start treatment within weeks rather than months.
This will be supported by major investment in diagnostics, including millions of additional tests, expanded Community Diagnostic Centres operating evenings and weekends, and faster access to scans and specialist reviews — bringing care closer to where people live.
Better care through modern technology
The Plan also sets out a significant expansion of cutting-edge technology, including robot-assisted surgery, faster genomic testing and improved use of digital tools. These advances will help doctors tailor treatments more precisely, reduce complications and speed up recovery – improving both survival rates and quality of life.
For patients with rarer or more complex cancers, the Plan will expand access to specialist cancer centres, ensuring more people benefit from expert, multidisciplinary care regardless of where they live.
Support that treats people, not just illnesses
Crucially, the National Cancer Plan recognises that cancer care doesn’t end with treatment. Every patient will receive a personalised cancer support plan, covering not just clinical care but mental health, employment, recovery and ongoing wellbeing.
Patients will also be better connected to cancer charities and local support services, helping them navigate everything from emotional support to financial advice and rehabilitation.
Helping families when it matters most
No family should have to choose between being at their child’s bedside and paying to get there – and that’s exactly why new support is being put in place for families facing long journeys for vital cancer treatment.
As part of the National Cancer Plan, the government has announced a new £10 million travel support fund to help cover the cost of journeys for children with cancer and their families.
This is practical, compassionate support that will make a real difference – giving families one less thing to worry about at an unimaginably difficult time.
What this fund means for families
- A £10 million national fund to support travel for children with cancer
- Help with travel costs for families who need to travel long distances for specialist treatment
- Ensuring parents and carers can be with their child when it matters most, without financial pressure
For too many families, travel costs have added stress and anxiety on top of the emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis. This fund is about removing that barrier and making sure care is centred on families, not finances, helping families stay together and focus on care, not costs.
Luke Pollard MP said:
“Having been treated for skin cancer in 2023, I know what impact a diagnosis of cancer can have.
“Our National Cancer Plan is about fixing the journey that many who are diagnosed have experienced – speeding up diagnosis, improving treatment, and making sure people are properly supported before, during and after care.
“The new £10 million travel fund for children with cancer is an important part of this wider effort, helping families stay together when it matters most. No parent should ever have to choose between being by their child’s side and worrying about how to pay for the journey.
“But it sits alongside much bigger reforms to deliver earlier diagnosis, faster treatment and better outcomes for patients across the country. This is about fairness, compassion and ambition – ensuring that where you live or what you earn doesn’t determine your chances of surviving cancer or living well beyond it.”