Stuart Anderson MP has joined calls to relieve young people diagnosed with cancer of their “substantial travel costs”, after it emerged that patients from his constituency of South Shropshire must travel 45 miles to access specialist treatment in Birmingham.
This results in patient journey times exceeding an hour. That is much more than the national average despite the constituency having a cancer prevalence rate of 5.7%. This is above both the regional average of 3.4% and the national average of 3.5%.
Stuart has now raised the issue with Ashley Dalton MP, the Minister for Public Health and Prevention. It is part of his response to the Government's Call for Evidence to inform the National Cancer Plan that is due to be published in the second half of 2025.
Launching the Call for Evidence in February, officials said:
"This call for evidence will inform the development of the government’s national cancer plan for England. Rather than a formal consultation on specific proposals, it constitutes a request for expert ideas and evidence that the government can build on."
Each year, around 4,000 children and young people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer. Young cancer patients travel twice as far and spend twice as much as adults, as treatment is based in Principal Treatment Centres (PTCs).
On average, young patients must travel 350 miles a month to access their treatment. 7 in 10 of them struggle with their transport costs, meaning they often miss out on or delay their treatment.
Stuart said that existing schemes do not provide sufficient support due to strict eligibility criteria relating to income levels and not being an inpatient on consecutive nights. He has that said a new, non-means tested scheme should be introduced.
He is supporting campaigners at Young Lives vs Cancer, who are calling for a scheme that is available from the point of diagnosis, throughout the duration of treatment, fully covers travel costs, and is easy to access with prompt payments made to those claiming it.
Stuart's call is the latest stage in his campaign to enhance the accessibility of public services in South Shropshire. On World Cancer Day in February, Stuart called for more Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in rural areas.
Since being introduced in 2021, CDCs have benefitted patients with more convenient access to diagnostic checks, tests and scans. Stuart wants patients in South Shropshire to be able to access them closer to where they live.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Being diagnosed with cancer at any age is devastating, particularly during childhood. We must do all that we can to ensure young patients can access the support and treatment they need – including by assisting with the substantial travel costs. Rural areas face a unique situation, given many people live so far away from treatment centres. Young people diagnosed with cancer travel twice as far and spend twice as much on travel as adults. In South Shropshire, they must travel 45 miles to access specialist treatment in Birmingham. That is why I am supporting calls made by Young Lives v Cancer for a dedicated Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund. I have taken this up with Ashley Dalton MP, the Minister for Public Health and Prevention, who I hope will accept this important request as part of the National Cancer Plan."
In a letter to Stuart, the charity said:
"We believe that all young cancer patients and their families should be focused on is getting through their treatment, not worrying about how they will afford to get there. We want to ensure that they receive the support they need to cope with the impact of cancer at every stage of their journey, and this should include their physical journey to their treatment. This is why Young Lives vs Cancer are campaigning for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund."
Young Lives vs Cancer provide tailored support for children and young people living with cancer. This includes an accommodation service, specialist social workers, and financial support (www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk).
