Spotting cancer at an early stage means that treatment is more likely to be successful. But in 2017, more than 1 in 10 diagnostic positions across the NHS in England were unfilled. This meant there simply weren’t enough staff to diagnose cancer early.
In June 2018, we called on the UK Government to stand shoulder to shoulder with our NHS against cancer by committing to train and employ more staff to diagnose and treat cancer early.
Increased funding begins to address NHS cancer staff shortages over the short-term, but tackling staff shortages for the long-term would enable the UK Government to meet their target of 75% of cancers diagnosed early by 2028.
The Shoulder to Shoulder against Cancer campaign launched in June 2018 when more than 80 volunteer Campaigns Ambassadors came together in Westminster, asking their own MPs and the UK Government to stand shoulder to shoulder with our NHS against cancer.
To mark the NHS turning 70, in July 2018 we handed in a letter to Number 10 with 174 signatures of MPs and peers pledging their support to the campaign. Shortly afterwards, then Prime Minister Theresa May committed to diagnosing 3 in 4 cancers early by 2028.
When new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, was announced campaigners called on him to stand shoulder to shoulder with our NHS. The campaign resulted in two volunteer Campaigns Ambassadors meeting him to talk about what early diagnosis of cancer meant for them, and their families
In 2020, thanks in part to our campaigns, collaboration and evidence, the UK Government announced an extra £260m to help grow the NHS workforce. That means more people getting diagnosis, treatment and care when they need it. This included £52m for Health Education England to further invest in the cancer and diagnostic workforce, offering training for 250 nurses wishing to become cancer clinical nurse specialists and 100 nurses wanting to become chemotherapy nurses.
We campaigned for an increase of early cancer diagnosis through more government funding. In 2015, the Government confirmed the NHS would have up to £300m each year until 2020 to invest into diagnosing cancer earlier.
During covid, it was estimated that around 38,000 fewer people received vital cancer treatment, so we launched the urgent campaign; ‘Safe Spaces for Cancer Services’.
Campaigns Ambassador Elizabeth shares why she’s supporting the Shoulder to Shoulder against Cancer campaign.
£20bn per year represents a real cash injection. But is it enough?
This is the story of two cancer diagnoses, four years apart. They involved the same GP practice, the same group of hospitals and the same person.
Radiotherapy is cutting-edge, curative and cost-effective. We want every person having radiotherapy to have high-quality, modern radiotherapy, and for there to be equitable access to the most innovative types of treatments across the UK.
Join our community of over 50,000 online campaigners across the UK helping to drive political action.
Take part in our community of over 200 volunteer Campaign Ambassadors helping to influence governments across the UK to take action on cancer and driving improvements for cancer in their local communities. Visit our Campaigns Ambassador page here.
