What is a National Cancer Control Plan?

National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) are strategic frameworks used to guide how countries prevent, diagnose, treat and research cancer, and how they support people affected by it. They bring together governments, health systems, researchers and patient communities around shared priorities, helping to coordinate action across often complex cancer pathways. Their purpose is to ensure that efforts are evidence‑based, properly resourced and aligned, so that cancer outcomes improve over time and inequities in access and experience are reduced.

Cancer Plans in the UK

Health policy in the UK is devolved, which means England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each develop their own cancer strategies and approaches to service planning. This creates variation in priorities, funding models and delivery mechanisms across the four nations.

In recent years, England has stood out as the only nation without a long‑term cancer control plan in place, following the expiry of the Achieving World Class Cancer Outcomes strategy in 2020. Since then, cancer policy has been driven largely through the NHS Long Term Plan and, more recently, the Government’s 10‑Year Health Plan, Fit for the Future. 

The new National Cancer Plan for England therefore represents a significant reset: it re‑establishes a dedicated national strategy for cancer and, importantly, includes - for the first time - a distinct chapter focused on children and young people’s cancers

Developing a new plan for England

The UK Government announced its intention to develop a new National Cancer Plan for England on 4th February 2025 as part of a wider effort to modernise cancer services and improve outcomes. The public, clinicians, charities and experts were invited to contribute through a formal call for evidence and targeted engagement activities. 

This process gathered thousands of insights on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research and lived experience, building on earlier work linked to the 10‑Year Health Plan and prior cancer policy initiatives. Solving Kids’ Cancer UK, alongside many others across the sector, played a key role in shaping the Plan’s direction by submitting evidence, participating in roundtables, and advising on the needs of specific patient groups.

The Children and Young People (CYP) Cancer Taskforce

Alongside this wider consultation, the Government re‑established the CYP Cancer Taskforce, bringing together clinicians, researchers, policy experts, charities and patient advocates to advise directly on what should be included to level-up care, treatment and experience for children and young people within the Plan. The Taskforce - supported by its dedicated charity subgroup, of which Solving Kids’ Cancer UK is a member - was responsible for developing the CYP chapter, ensuring that insights from families, service providers and the CYP cancer community shaped both the priorities and the commitments set out in the final Plan

We recognise the pivotal role played by Sophie’s Legacy and Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, whose tireless advocacy ensured the CYP Cancer Taskforce was both established and sustained at national level. We also extend thanks to the Taskforce co‑chairs - Professor Darren Hargrave and Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel - for their leadership, vision and commitment throughout the development of the Plan, helping to secure meaningful progress for children and young people with cancer.

What does the new Plan say?

The Government has now published the new National Cancer Plan, setting out its system‑wide vision for transforming cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research and care. For the first time, the Plan includes a dedicated chapter on children and young people’s cancers, marking a significant shift in national policy and a long‑awaited acknowledgement of the distinct needs of babies, children, teenagers and young adults.

At a high level, the CYP chapter sets out commitments across five major pillars:

• Early Detection and Diagnosis – tackling delays through improved primary and emergency care awareness, access to paediatric expertise, strengthened diagnostic pathways, and more consistent use of paediatric radiology and decision‑support tools.
• Genomic Testing and Novel Treatments – improving the speed, equity and coordination of whole‑genome sequencing and genomic pathways, and establishing specialist inherited cancer predisposition services.
• Research and Innovation – positioning CYP cancer as a national research priority, removing barriers to clinical trial access, and explicitly recognising IMPACCT as a key initiative driving improvements in research infrastructure.
• Experience of Care – addressing the wider emotional, practical and financial impacts of cancer on families, including a universal travel‑costs fund, better hospital food and environment, expanded play and youth support, and standardised psychosocial and late‑effects care.
• Data collection and publication - exploring diagnostic interval reporting and building a more robust evidence base on long‑term outcomes and survivorship.

This suite of commitments signals a renewed focus on CYP cancer within the national policy landscape and creates substantial opportunities for sector collaboration, delivery partnerships, and long‑term improvement in outcomes and experience for children and young people.

Our response to the National Cancer Plan

We warmly welcome the publication of the National Cancer Plan and the clear recognition it provides — for the first time — of the distinct needs of children and young people with cancer. The inclusion of a dedicated section of children’s cancers marks a significant milestone in national cancer policy and reflects years of work across the sector to ensure children are no longer overlooked in cancer strategy development.

As an active member of the CYP Cancer Taskforce charity subgroup, and through our consultation response, we worked hard to ensure the needs and experiences of children and young people were properly represented. We therefore welcome this Plan as a major opportunity to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people with cancer. 

We look forward to working with government and sector partners to ensure this Plan delivers meaningful, measurable improvements for children and young people with cancer — now and in the future.

Read our full response to the Plan below, outlining our recommendations and reflections on its commitments for children and young people.