The UK Government is currently drafting the National Cancer Plan for England. Find out why a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund must be included and how you can help this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Travel to treatment and care costs an average of £250 every month for children and young people (under 25) with cancer and their families. The majority say they are struggling to meet these costs, with 1 in 10 missing or delaying their treatment because of the cost of travel to get there.
Cancer care for children and young people is delivered at specialist Principal Treatment Centres (PTCs). There are only 19 PTC locations in the UK: 14 in England, three in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
How far away is your nearest Principal Treatment Centre?
As a result, young cancer patients and their families travel, on average, almost 350 miles each month to and from treatment, which can sometimes last for years. This comes at an average cost of £250 every month.
We believe that all children, young people and their families should be focused on is getting through treatment, not worrying about the cost of getting there.
This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, help us encourage the UK Government to include a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund in the upcoming National Cancer Plan. Cancer care for children and young people is delivered at specialist Principal Treatment Centres (PTCs). There are only 19 PTC locations in the UK: 14 in England, three in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
The research
4,200 children and young people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer every year. We found that children and young people with cancer and their families:
- Three in 10 young cancer patients and their families have had to borrow or take on debts to pay for the costs of travelling to and from treatment. (31%)
- One in four young cancer patients and their families have had to cut back on food to help pay for the costs of travelling to and from treatment. (27%)
- Four in five young cancer patients and their families cut back on social and recreational activities to help pay for the costs of travelling to and from treatment (82% holidays, leisure and entertainment or social activities)
- One in five young cancer patients and their families have had to sell their possessions, items or assets to help pay for the costs of travelling to and from treatment. (20%)
- One in five young cancer patients and their families have fallen behind on their household bills to help pay for the costs of travelling to and from treatment. (20%)
- Three in five young cancer patients and their families believed being refunded for the costs of travelling to treatment would have been the most helpful travel support they could receive. (62%)
It’s clear that the current financial support provided by UK Government isn’t good enough. Many young cancer patients and families don’t qualify for the existing NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme and hospital transport is often not appropriate. Only 12% report receiving support that covers their travel costs.
Campaigning for change
Young Lives vs Cancer is calling for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund, to better support all children and young people with cancer and their families.This isn’t a new concept. Along with your tireless support, we’ve been campaigning for a Young Patient Travel Fund since 2016.
And in 2023, we re-launched our campaign, and asked the UK Government to create a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund. Young people Vic and Dylan joined our CEO Rachel Kirby-Ryder to hand in our petition at 10 Downing Street, with over 11,500 signatures of support.
We believe all young cancer patients should be focused on is getting through their treatment instead of how to deal with escalating travel costs and worrying how they will get there.
The UK Government is currently drafting the National Cancer Plan. We know children and young people will be included, but for the Plan to work, it must meet all their needs. We must ensure a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund is included, so every child and young person can access their treatment without cost or delay.
We’re also continuing to meet with elected representatives in Scottish Parliament (about expanding the Young Patients Family Fund), the Welsh Senedd and Northern Ireland’s Legislative Assembly to ensure every child and young person in the UK receives the financial support they need to get to treatment.
"SOMETIMES I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EAT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO BUDGET FOR MY FERRIES"
When Vic was diagnosed with Lymphoma at 21 years old, her whole life turned upside down. She had to travel back and forth to the hospital for regular appointments and treatment, never expecting the financial costs of cancer to take over her life.
Vic, shared: “The Isle of Wight where I live were not insured to treat me because I was under 25 – so all of my treatment was in Southampton. All the scans and the appointments and meetings were all from there. At first I spent up to £80 a day traveling to the hospital, it was absolutely crippling me.”
Her Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Worker, Kate, helped her apply for grants and arranged for her to stay at Jean’s House, our Home from Home near Southampton Hospital. Vic says it was a ‘life saver’ as it meant she could stay in Southampton for free during treatment and save on travel costs.
Vic shared: “Young Lives vs Cancer literally was the make-or-break of getting me through treatment because I don’t think I’d have been able to do it otherwise. I cannot thank Kate enough for doing what she did.”
How you can help
- Help us amplify the voices of children and young people with cancer, and their families, by resharing our #RunningOnEmpty #CancerCosts posts on your social media
- Email your MP to talk to us at upcoming party conferences
- #CancerCosts sound familiar? If you’re looking for support with the cost of travelling to treatment, check out our webpages for more information on financial support, including Young Lives vs Cancer grants, and help with travel costs.