- Under the government’s National Cancer Plan, every patient will be given a tailored plan covering treatment, mental health, and employment support.
- Patients to be linked to cancer charity help through the NHS App as soon as they’re diagnosed
- Every patient given a named local care lead to provide support after treatment
- Every cancer patient will be given individual support, designed just for them, under the government’s National Cancer Plan.
Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan has welcomed for the first time, every patient in Portsmouth will get a Personalised Cancer Plan that looks beyond just treatment and diagnosis to cover the full impact of cancer on their life – from anxiety and fatigue to diet and returning to work.
They will also receive an end-of-treatment summary to end the cliff edge many face when chemotherapy or surgery finishes – giving them clear guidance on warning signs, who to call with concerns, and where to find ongoing support like physiotherapy, counselling or local cancer groups.
Even after successful treatment, some patients find themselves unable to return to the lives they had before diagnosis. The psychological toll of cancer can be devastating and long-lasting – with anxiety, depression and trauma persisting long after physical recovery. The Personalised Cancer Plan ensures patients receive the mental health support they need to rebuild their lives.
Rolling out this year, the new approach recognises that cancer can affect every part of a patient’s life and that care doesn’t stop when treatment ends.
It’s a crucial change in how cancer patients receive support, ensuring care is designed around their lives rather than demanding patients fit around the NHS.
More personalised support doesn’t just improve wellbeing – it gets people back to work and back to their families sooner.
Patients will be connected to cancer charities for specialist support through the NHS App as soon as they are diagnosed.
Too often, patients only discover charity support by chance – or miss out entirely. This means help with everything from financial advice to emotional support will be just a tap away, right when they need it most.
The NHS App will be transformed into a digital portal for cancer care, allowing patients to book screening appointments, access prehabilitation programmes, view their patient record, check their Personalised Cancer Plan, and provide feedback on their care – all from the convenience of their home.
By 2035, every cancer patient will have a named neighbourhood care lead responsible for joining up their care after treatment meaning no more being passed from pillar to post. This demonstrates the real change being delivered by the government’s record investment as we rebuild the NHS.
New standards will be introduced by 2028 to help patients get fit for treatment and recover quickly afterwards – including prehabilitation, rehabilitation and physical activity programmes.
The announcement follows the government’s pledge that three in four cancer patients diagnosed from 2035 will be cancer-free or living well after five years.
This is on top of a series of measures already announced in the lead up to the National Cancer Plan, including; £10 million a year to support children’s travel costs for cancer care, improving access to specialists in rural and coastal communities, a crackdown on illegal underage sunbed use and improved bowel cancer screening to catch thousands more cases earlier.
The government has also announced a new AI pilot to help detect hard-to-reach lung cancers sooner with fewer invasive tests as well as a new employer partnership to support England’s 830,000 working-age cancer patients to remain in employment during and after treatment.
Welcoming the new national cancer plan and these measures for our city’s patients, Portsmouth South’s Stephen Morgan MP said:
“The individual support plans will provide help and support for a patient’s treatment, mental health, and employment.
“These tailored plans will ensure patients in Portsmouth are able to access services designed just for them, as for too long patients have had to deal with these aspects alone alongside their diagnosis.
“I am delighted that this ends under this Labour Government and that those diagnosed with cancer in our city will receive the all-round care and support they deserve”.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said:
“If you’ve ever sat in a waiting room dreading what comes next or laid awake at 3am wondering how you’ll pay the bills while you’re off work for treatment, you’ll know that cancer doesn’t just attack your body – it takes over your whole life. I was fortunate. I had a supportive employer, a family who could rally around me, and the financial security to focus on getting better. But I know that’s not everyone’s reality – and it shouldn’t be based on luck.
“For too long, we’ve treated the tumour and left patients to figure out the rest on their own. That ends now. This plan means nobody gets handed a diagnosis and is then abandoned to navigate the system alone.
“This is care that actually fits around people’s lives, not the other way around. It’s the biggest shift in how we support cancer patients in a generation.”
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Cancer, said:
“Being diagnosed with cancer affects every part of your life and the lives of the people around you which is why the NHS is committed to supporting people with cancer in every possible way, from the best treatment and clear information through to psychological and practical help.
“A personalised cancer plan will bring all this together, helping people face cancer with the right care, at the right time, in the right way.”
Gemma Peters, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“Someone in the UK is now diagnosed with cancer at least every 75 seconds. This National Cancer Plan is an opportunity to ensure every one of them gets the support they need from the moment they hear the words, “You have cancer”.
“The Plan’s promise of a tailored support plan for everyone, alongside a named neighbourhood cancer lead and connecting people to cancer charities for support, will make a real difference. At Macmillan, we know this personalised approach works, having already enabled over half a million assessments to help people identify their needs and concerns, and shape care around what matters to them.
“Macmillan is determined to work with Government, our NHS, communities, public and private sector partners to enable this Plan to revolutionise cancer care for the future and ensure that everyone accesses world-class care and treatment.”
Portsmouth South’s Stephen Morgan MP has particularly welcomed the cancer plan as it comes as the government continues to make strides on cancer waiting lists, diagnosing or ruling out cancer on time for 213,000 extra cases since July 2024.
One hundred and seventy community diagnostic centres are now open – with over 100 of them available at evenings and weekends – bringing checks, scans and tests closer to where people live and at times that work around them.
