National cancer strategies and plans

A new long-term plan for the NHS

In March 2018, the Prime Minister pledged to bring forward a new long-term plan and funding settlement for the NHS in response to growing concerns that key health services are being overwhelmed by rising demand. Macmillan welcome this announcement, and have set out 7 principles for the new long-term plan to ensure that it meets the changing needs of people living with cancer.

Read our briefing 'Macmillan's priorities for the NHS long-term funding settlement in England'.

Cancer strategy in England

You can read a detailed overview of the cancer strategy in England here.

Macmillan was part of an Independent Taskforce created to improve survival rates and experiences of people affected by cancer. The Taskforce has developed a new report called Achieving world-class cancer outcomes - A strategy for England 2015-2020. This sets out a proposed new five-year Cancer Strategy for England.

Macmillan is now working to ensure that the strategy is fully funded and implemented to best support people affected by cancer, particularly during and after treatment.

Key reports:

• Warning Signs: Challenges to delivering the Cancer Strategy for England by 2020
• Cancer Strategy for England: 'Achieving world-class cancer outcomes - A strategy for England 2015-2020'
• Cancer Strategy implementation plan: 'Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes: Taking the strategy forward' May 2016

After many years of influencing and campaigning, Macmillan in Scotland were pleased when 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' was published by the Scottish Government in March 2016.

Macmillan have been at the heart of influencing the politicians so that this plan is delivered over the lifetime of the 2016-2021 Scottish Parliament session – and we continue to work with fellow charities, the NHS and local authorities to implement the plan in full.

Our key focus is be to ensure that care for patients living with and beyond cancer is recognised as a vital part of the cancer journey; in the same way that diagnosis and surgery currently is. Following the UK Government announcement in July 2018 of increased funding for NHS England, we are keen that any increased funding that comes to Scotland is accompanied by a long-term plan to ensure that it meets the changing needs of people living with cancer. We have produced a set of principles that Macmillan would like to see reflected in a new long term plan for the NHS in Scotland, which you can see here.

Key reports:

• Scottish cancer strategy

We want to see an ambitious cancer plan which places Wales among the best in Europe for cancer outcomes and patient experience.

We believe that future strategies must address how to progress clinical outcomes, and equally improve people’s experience of cancer care across Wales.

Strategaethau a Chynlluniau Cenedlaethol Canser

Rydym eisiau gweld cynllun canser uchelgeisiol sydd yn rhoi Cymru gyda’r gorau yn Ewrop am ganlyniadau canser a phrofiad cleifion.

Rydym o’r farn bod yn rhaid i strategaethau yn y dyfodol fynd i’r afael â’r ffordd o ddatblygu canlyniadau clinigol, ac yn yr un modd, gwella profiad pobl o ofal canser ledled Cymru.

We have been supporting calls for a cancer strategy for Northern Ireland. 

In the meantime, we hope the revised Cancer Services Framework will lead to improved care and support. The framework is due for publication in 2016 and our Assembly election calls asked all parties to commit to its full implementation.