- Stuart Anderson MP has renewed his campaign to tackle rural disparities in cancer care as part of World Cancer Day which returns on 4th February 2026.
- The international event is observed on 4th February each year and aims to mobilise action to address the global cancer epidemic at all levels of government.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"As we mark World Cancer Day on 4th February 2026, I was pleased to meet with Cancer Research UK in Parliament to discuss the National Cancer Plan. One year ago, I launched my campaign to tackle rural disparities in cancer care and support earlier diagnosis. A year to the date, I welcome the government's commitment to ending the postcode lottery for rural patients. This includes the recruitment of more specialist doctors and faster delivery of new diagnostic technologies. The government has also accepted my request to support travel costs for young cancer patients, after I reported that they have to travel 45 miles to access treatment in Birmingham. However, these are just some of my requests. I have also called for more community diagnostic centres in rural areas and better wraparound support including mental healthcare in farming communities like ours. I will continue to campaign on this vital issue.”
South Shropshire has the second highest cancer prevalence rate in England, according to estimates for 2025 based on GP practice registers in England published by NHS Digital. There are 3,300 new cancer cases every year in the area including South Shropshire. South Shropshire has a prevalence rate of 6.4%, which is almost double the national and regional average. 49.3% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage. This equates to around 1,300 of that figure. Stuart launched his campaign on 4th February 2025 when he called for more community diagnostic centres (CDCs) in rural areas to support earlier diagnosis. In August 2025, Stuart then called for the National Cancer Plan to include an explicit focus on tackling high prevalence rates in rural areas. He said doing so could be a real turning point on tackling cancer in the country.
Responding to Stuart's campaign, the government has today (4th February 2026) pledged to end the postcode lottery of cancer care by training more specialist doctors in rural areas. The plans will see new training places targeted at trusts with the biggest workforce gaps, prioritising rural and coastal areas where patients struggle the most. More doctors will be encouraged to specialise in clinical and medical oncology, with the hope of boosting the number of specialists in under-served areas. The plan will also see the faster delivery of new diagnostic technologies to rural areas. The plans are part of the government's long-awaited National Cancer Plan. However, specific allocations for new training places have not yet been set out.
The government has also accepted Stuart's request to support travel costs for young cancer patients, after he reported that they have to travel 45 miles to access treatment in Birmingham. Research from Young Lives Versus Cancer has shown that young people and families spend an average £250 a month and travel 350 miles just to get to their vital specialist treatment. The research adds that those in rural areas can be spending even more and travelling even further. These costs can mean falling behind on bills, getting into debt, and even missing or delaying treatment because of the cost. The government is providing £10 million for the scheme, as more than a third of families travel over an hour to reach hospital for cancer care. Stuart has also urged the government to publish a detailed implementation plan and ensure the delivery of wraparound support including adequate mental healthcare in rural areas like South Shropshire.
