National Cancer Plan

Question 1

Introduction

Accepted Answer

The general equality duty that is set out in the Equality Act 2010 requires public authorities, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to:

eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the act
advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not
foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not

The general equality duty does not specify how public authorities should analyse the effect of their existing and new policies and practices on equality but doing so is an important part of complying with the general equality duty.

Question 2

National Cancer Plan

Accepted Answer

Cancer affects 1 in 2 people and in 2024 was the country’s biggest killer. The National Cancer Plan will support the government’s health mission goal of ‘fewer lives lost to the biggest killers’ by transforming cancer care and outcomes.

This plan is ambitious, looking beyond the confines of our old care model and looking at ways to take the radical modernisation proposed in the 10 Year Health Plan and apply it to cancer care.

The plan will have patients of all backgrounds at its heart and cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and aftercare. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer.

Question 3

Intended aims

Accepted Answer

This National Cancer Plan intends to achieve 3 central goals:

restoring cancer performance across the NHS, including reducing waits for diagnosis and treatment
making England a world leader in cancer outcomes by 2035 by transforming cancer survival
improving the quality of life for people living with cancer, including through shifting cancer care out of hospitals and into local neighbourhoods

These aims will be supported by robust actions, including:

boosting productivity of cancer services
accelerating research and innovation
improving services for children and young people
targeted improvements in previously neglected areas such as rarer cancers

Effect on patients

The primary group affected will be patients - a significant population, given nearly 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Cancer does not discriminate - it can impact anyone, at any age, from any socioeconomic background, ethnic group or geography. It is likely that the number of cancer cases will continue to increase very significantly, meaning a larger proportion of the population will develop cancer. We are choosing to act now, so that more people will live longer, better lives after a cancer diagnosis.

Cancer is also not a single disease, but a spectrum of over 200 cancer types, each requiring differentiated care across diagnosis, treatment, recovery and end-of-life support. Cancer pathways often cross multiple organisational boundaries, linking primary care, diagnostics, secondary and tertiary care as well as community services and specialised providers. This means that many cancer patients have different treatment pathways, different teams that they engage with and very different experiences of care.

While all cancers reflect a common biological process, different types of cancer vary widely in the speed of their progression, the relative ease of diagnosis and their susceptibility to different strategies to improve incidence, diagnosis and treatment. Five-year survival rates for different cancers vary enormously. While more than 90% of skin or testicular cancer patients can expect to live 5 years or more after their diagnosis, cancers such as brain or pancreatic cancer still have survival rates in the single figures and this is stubbornly resistant to improvement. The National Cancer Plan has an explicit focus on rarer and less survivable cancers to ensure we are best serving patients with all cancers.

There is also variation across other aspects of inequalities. Through the call for evidence and detailed discussions with important groups, including those representing people who face barriers in accessing services, various issues emerged. There is a clear need for ongoing discussions, including with patient representatives, to ensure cancer services work for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.

This work is vital because it helps us understand how different disadvantages overlap, especially in poorer areas where several challenges often occur together.

Data is critical in understanding and tackling inequalities, with national audits and data from the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) and the Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme shining a light on unwarranted variation. We are using this data and working with cancer alliances to help trusts to improve quality and reduce unwarranted variation in cancer care, and inform the planning and provision of cancer services.

Engagement with a wide range of stakeholders has demonstrated the importance of seeking to understand different patients’ perspectives of cancer.

Effect on carers

Another important group affected will be carers. Given nearly 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, many spouses, partners, parents and children will become carers of their loved ones. The complexities of many cancer experiences and the debilitating effects of some treatments mean that carers often find themselves navigating challenging situations and advocating for their loved ones, while also providing them with strength and support, leaving themselves overwhelmed and exhausted.

Changes that affect patients directly, particularly the move to neighbourhood health and the move to digital, have the potential to also significantly benefit carers. The changes should make it easier to support loved ones to:

attend appointments
undergo treatment locally
book and rebook appointments when needed
share any feedback in real time

Question 4

Analysis of impacts

Accepted Answer

Disability

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

People with disabilities often experience worse outcomes than people without disabilities, including:

delayed diagnoses
higher rates of diagnosis following an emergency hospital visit
later stage diagnoses
increased mortality risk

One study showed people with learning disabilities were about half as likely to be referred for urgent investigation with ‘red flag’ symptoms.^{[footnote 1]}

People with disabilities are less likely to participate in cancer screening programmes such as breast or bowel screening.^{[footnote 2]} Low levels of take-up have been observed in people with learning disabilities.

People with disabilities often face accessibility challenges in participating in clinical cancer research. These include physical access barriers, lack of communication tools and misconceptions about their capacity to participate.^{[footnote 3]} A lack of data and guidelines specifically for including people with this protected characteristic in trials mean people with disabilities remain underserved, risking further inequalities.^{[footnote 4]}

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan will help tackle barriers and increase screening uptake, including engaging with manufacturers to improve the accessibility of machines. Through cancer alliances, the NHS is seeking to reach those not currently attending screening services by exploring routes with community organisations to find alternative ways to reach people.

Early diagnosis is a priority in the plan, which sets out how the government will save lives by identifying thousands of cancers earlier. Reducing barriers to screening uptake through, for example, working with manufacturers to promote development of mammography machines accessible to people with physical disabilities, will improve early detection of certain cancers for people with disabilities.

Through the plan, the government is redesigning cancer care around people’s lives. The National Cancer Plan sets out plans for more personalised support for patients, including emotional and mental health support, and prehabilitation and rehabilitation services. The plan sets out that all patients will have access to a clinical nurse specialist or other named lead from 2026 to support them through their care.

The National Cancer Plan sets out efforts to make research more inclusive, including through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Inclusion Strategy and its dedicated Inclusion Fund, providing financial support for projects related to certain priorities, including disability. Through the National Cancer Plan, every patient will have the opportunity to join a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where one is available.

Through wider initiatives, such as the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, there are steps to support people - including disabled people as a priority group - in the move towards digital.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Building on these measures, the National Cancer Plan is designed to create substantial improvements for people with a disability, positively impacting people with this protected characteristic.

Enhanced accessibility of screening programmes, including adjustments to equipment and procedures, directly addresses the barriers disabled people often face in accessing early diagnosis. Through partnerships with community organisations and the expansion of digital inclusion initiatives, the plan seeks to ensure that disabled individuals - who may have difficulty attending traditional appointments or accessing health information - are reached through alternative and more flexible routes. The incorporation of targeted clinical programmes, such as NHS England’s CORE20PLUS5, specifically focuses on improving early cancer diagnosis rates among disabled people, recognising the disproportionate impact late diagnoses can have on people with this protected characteristic.

Increased opportunities for disabled individuals to participate in relevant clinical trials, supported by inclusive research strategies and dedicated funding, aim to address historic underrepresentation and promote equitable innovation in cancer care. Increased emotional and mental health support and prehabilitation and rehabilitation services will be provided closer to where people live. As a result, these actions will support earlier diagnoses, more tailored support throughout treatment and recovery, and better long-term outcomes for people with disabilities, narrowing gaps in cancer experience and provision. The actions are not anticipated to negatively impact those sharing the protected characteristic of disability.

Sex

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic^{[footnote 5]}

For all cancers combined, incidence rates for men are consistently higher than for women across all age groups, with men also having higher cancer mortality rates. The mortality rates for cancer for males and females are 294 per 100,000 and 208 per 100,000 respectively. Additionally, there is variation by specific cancer type. For example, the mortality rate for lung cancer for males is 53 per 100,000, compared to 41 per 100,000 for females. The cancer type with the highest incidence for males is prostate cancer - the mortality rate for prostate cancer is 43 per 100,000. For females, the cancer type with the highest incidence is breast cancer - the mortality rate for breast cancer is 30 per 100,000.

Both sexes reported overall positive experiences of their cancer care, with women scoring 8.89 out of 10 and men scoring 9.00 out of 10.

There are harmful societal norms and stereotypes associated with men which can lead to behaviours harmful to health and linked to cancer, such as higher alcohol intake and lower engagement with health services.^{[footnote 6]}

Many women have reported times when they felt they were not listened to by healthcare professionals. The Women’s Health Strategy survey found more than 4 in 5 (84%) of nearly 100,000 respondents reported times when they (or the woman they had in mind) were not listened to by healthcare professionals. There has been a lack of female-only medical trials in the UK^{[footnote 7]} compared to male-only trials.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan sets out how the NHS is trialling new approaches to target screening programmes towards women at greater risk of cancer, either because of dense breast tissue or because of their human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination status. It also sets out how future-facing approaches will explore the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to free up radiologists’ time to screen and diagnose more women with cancer. It refers to the NHS piloting the use of NHS 111 for online self-referral to treatment pathways for suspected breast cancer, to speed up diagnosis and treatment.

More widely, the government’s men’s health and women’s health strategies aim to address sex-specific challenges in care access and outcomes, with the Women’s Health Strategy soon to be updated.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

The National Cancer Plan has several actions that will improve diagnosis, treatment and access to services for all people with cancer, including both women and men. Specifically, targeted screening initiatives will benefit sex-specific cancer diagnoses, while the move to expand diagnostic services and treatment, including through the neighbourhood health service, will address particular challenges faced by each sex. The move towards more inclusive research, including the commitment on clinical trials, will benefit both women and men.

Sexual orientation

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

There are reported disparities in cancer survivorship, including poorer quality of life and worse cancer outcomes. Studies have shown that at least 7 types of cancer disproportionately affect populations who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other identities (LGBT+) in terms of diagnosis and outcomes, including anal, breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate and uterine cancers.^{[footnote 8]}

LGBT+ people with cancer have reported poorer overall experience of care.

Smoking prevalence in adults is higher in some LGBT+ groups, which can lead to cancer.^{[footnote 9]}

LGBT+ people with cancer may face barriers in cancer, including discrimination and a lack of inclusive services in accessing prevention practices, screening and treatment. Some LGBT+ people may be hesitant to disclose their sexual orientation due to potential discrimination. Healthcare professionals might be hesitant to ask for sexual orientation and therefore mis-record or simply do not record the information.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan will build on measures outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan, including the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill and the expansion of smoking cessation support, which should particularly benefit LGBT+ people, contributing to fewer smoking-related cancers over time.

The plan includes policies to help people understand and minimise their risk, maximise the impact of screening programmes, tackle barriers and increase uptake in underscreened communities, and to emphasise early detection and diagnosis. Cancer screening is also an area of focus of NHS England’s LGBT+ health inequalities review, launched in 2025, which will help the NHS understand how it can do more to meet the needs of LGBT+ people.

With the move from analogue to digital in the 10 Year Health Plan, innovations such as the single patient record, the use of the NHS App as the front door to the NHS, and the ability to leave feedback on care received, should transform services for LGBT+ people. They will no longer need to disclose their sexual orientation multiple times. Transparent information on the performance of cancer services will enable patients to select the provider that best meets their needs. They can report their experiences of care in real time.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Overall, the National Cancer Plan policies will have some positive impact on those sharing the protected characteristic of sexual orientation. Some benefits have been identified for all people, including LGBT+ people with cancer. Through its emphasis on prevention, screening and earlier diagnosis, specifically increasing uptake in underscreened communities, the impact is anticipated to be positive overall. In addition to the benefits to all people, specific actions will particularly support LGBT+ people with cancer, including screening accessibility, tackling barriers and increasing uptake in underscreened communities. We anticipate benefits linked to earlier detection and earlier diagnosis for underscreened communities. Additional specific benefits include research inclusiveness, neighbourhood support and digital advances, with innovations such as the single patient record. Therefore, the plan’s actions are expected to bring benefits to people with the protected characteristic of sexual orientation in particular.

Race

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Cancer rates differ among ethnic groups. Research by Cancer Research UK shows that White individuals in England are over twice as likely to develop certain cancers - like melanoma, oesophageal, bladder and lung cancer - compared to those from Black, Asian or Mixed ethnic backgrounds, partly because of avoidable risks such as smoking and obesity.^{[footnote 10]} Prostate cancer, myeloma and womb cancer occur more often in Black people. The same study observed that Black individuals have higher rates of stomach and liver cancers, while Asian people are more frequently diagnosed with liver cancer.

People self-reporting as ethnic minorities had lower overall satisfaction with their cancer care than those self-reporting as White, with the lowest scores given by Black ethnic groups (8.58 out of 10, compared to White groups at 8.96 out of 10).^{[footnote 11]}

Around 55 to 58% of cancers were diagnosed at an early stage across all ethnic groups, with 55% among White patients and 57% among both Asian and Black ethnic groups. However, late-stage diagnosis remains common across all ethnicities, affecting around 45% of patients.^{[footnote 12]}

Concerns were raised in the call for evidence about structural inequalities affecting ethnic minority groups across the cancer pathway. A lack of data and a lack of transparency can hamper efforts to tackle inequalities in cancer care.

People from Black, Asian and other ethnic groups are underrepresented in clinical trials, impacting both their own potential outcomes and the health and care research sector’s understanding of treatment impacts on different groups.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan’s policies to prevent cancer, including through stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption, will benefit all people, including people from ethnic minority backgrounds. For some groups, targeted testing will also mean identifying potential issues before they become cancers. As an example, people with Jewish ancestry, who are more likely to have inherited faulty BRCA genes than the general population, will be offered testing. This testing aims to decrease their risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers - cancers that are potentially preventable.

The plan will improve screening for people of all ethnic backgrounds, by expanding existing programmes, improving uptake, and using new technology and research to identify new targeted screening opportunities. Furthermore, the plan’s neighbourhood early diagnosis fund will provide cancer alliances with targeted funding to reduce inequalities for people of all ethnic minorities, among whom rates of early diagnosis are lower. Cancer alliances will work with community groups and charities to identify barriers to earlier diagnosis, and co-design effective local campaigns to maximise their impact.

Steps outlined in the plan to publish more comprehensive cancer data will increase transparency and support wider research. Building on NDRS’s Get Data Out programme, there will be an expansion of routine reporting, with more granular demographic data, including on ethnicity, to identify and tackle health inequalities. To reduce unwarranted variation, the 10 national cancer audits and data from NDRS and the GIRFT programme will provide the evidence for trusts and cancer alliances to help them improve quality and reduce unwarranted variation in cancer care, including disparities for people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The policies in the plan will improve research inclusivity. The TRANSFORM trial aims to address some of the inequalities that exist in prostate cancer diagnosis today, with at least 10% of the men invited to participate in the trial being Black men, who experience a higher prevalence of prostate cancer. The government will ensure that all cancer patients, no matter their ethnic background, have the opportunity to join a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where one is available.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Overall, the National Cancer Plan will benefit people with cancer from all ethnic backgrounds through its emphasis on prevention, screening and earlier diagnosis. Specific actions will particularly support ethnic minority groups with cancer, including targeted screening and outreach programmes, which we anticipate will bring benefits linked to earlier detection and earlier diagnosis. These actions also include data-driven approaches such as NDRS’s Get Data Out programme to tackle disparities, and research inclusivity. In summary, they will benefit some people with the protected characteristic of race in particular.

Age

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

The number of people living after a cancer diagnosis in England is now 2.4 million and rising by 100,000 each year, with many older people experiencing cancer as one of multiple long-term conditions.^{[footnote 13]}

The highest cancer mortality rates are observed among those aged 90 and over. Cancer mortality rates reach their highest levels in the oldest age groups, at 3,595 per 100,000 in males and 1,887 per 100,000 in females aged 90 and over. These rates are almost 10 times higher than the population average (251.1 per 100,000).^{[footnote 14]} The highest levels of satisfaction with cancer care were seen in those aged 55 and older, while the lowest scores were seen for those aged 25 to 54.

While cancer is relatively rare in childhood, with incidence of just 10.9 per 100,000 among children aged 5 to 9, outcomes and long-term needs remain significant. Under 16s’ experience of care was rated very highly by parents and carers.^{[footnote 15]}

Cancer in children and young people requires a specialist approach. This is because:

they tend to suffer from different cancer types
cancers behave differently in these age groups
treatment has additional considerations, such as effects on long-term fertility

Equity of access to genomic testing has been identified as a current challenge, with lengthy turnaround times contributing to late diagnosis and treatment. There are often funding and regulatory approval barriers to the adoption and uptake of novel treatments, including a deficiency in the paediatric-specific licensing currently available.

Many children and young people with cancer must travel considerable distances to specialist principal treatment centres. There are also issues with clinical trials for children and young people with cancer, including age limits on trial participation. Data on children and young people’s cancers has been patchy and incomplete.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan will build on preventative steps set out in the 10 Year Health Plan to reduce the risk of cancer for older adults, with targeted support such as stopping smoking. For younger people, preventative measures like the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, clinical advances like the HPV vaccination, and genomic testing to identify people with a greater inherited risk of cancer who could benefit from early intervention, offer the chance to stop many preventable cancers before they develop.

The plan sets out measures to maximise the number of cancers detected through screening, including expanding existing programmes, improving uptake and using new technology and research. Together, these measures should mean greater opportunities for people to access screening.

The plan’s proposals for a more proactive approach in primary care and the neighbourhood health service will benefit all cancer patients. Support including the GatewayC digital training platform, a new generation of digital support tools and a pilot of electronic safety netting (a digital system that ensures patients with potential cancer symptoms are tracked, monitored and followed up efficiently), have the potential to support primary care teams to spot signs that could be cancer. While benefiting all patients, these have real potential to benefit children and young people.

Policies to maximise investment in community diagnostic centres by getting the optimal number of scans per hour will increase diagnostic capacity, bringing services closer to where people live, enabling them to get tested and diagnosed more quickly. The plan will also ensure all primary care clinicians have access to appropriate paediatric diagnostic services.

The National Cancer Plan sets out how the NHS Genomic Medicine Service will establish a national network of specialist children and young people’s inherited cancer predisposition services in England to implement end-to-end genomic pathways and ensure holistic support. The plan also sets out proposals to improve experiences of cancer care, including a travel fund, implementation of the Play Well toolkit, improving access to high-quality hospital food, and remodelling pathways.

The shift to digital is expected to benefit some older people and some families of children and young people with cancer, though there will need to be accommodation for those without digital access. Steps such as equipping staff with effective IT systems to reduce administration and paperwork, and introducing new AI and digital tools, will give staff more time to spend with patients.

The government’s new neighbourhood health approach offers the opportunity to bring cancer care into the community - a holistic approach with local organisations, charities and support groups - in a way that delivers tailored support. Neighbourhood cancer care will mean charity and community organisations working with the NHS to use simple but effective interventions, such as exercise programmes, to help people to prepare for treatment, recover and thrive following cancer. The policy to develop neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams for children and for teenage and young people will take into account their specific needs, including appropriate psychological care, to support improved outcomes and quality of life.

NIHR recognises that gaps in research have led to unfair health outcomes for people who need the most support, including children and young people. Through the National Cancer Plan, every patient will have the opportunity to join a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where one is available, with steps being taken to increase trial recruitment among younger people. Proposals to include children and young people’s cancers in routine reporting, and to develop a comprehensive evidence base of long-term outcomes and survivorship in this cohort, will bring greater insights and enable targeted action.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Overall, the National Cancer Plan will benefit people of all ages with cancer through its emphasis on earlier diagnosis, high-quality treatment and neighbourhood care. Specific actions will particularly support older people, including on prevention (for example, targeted support for stopping smoking), screening and clinical trials. Proposals on data, national networks, preventative measures like the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and clinical advances like HPV vaccination and genomic testing will benefit people of all ages. Specifically, establishing the NHS Genomic Medicine Service national network of specialist children and young people inherited cancer predisposition services, and policies in primary care, will specifically support children and younger people and so will particularly benefit some people with the protected characteristic of age.

Gender reassignment

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Data from the National Cancer Patient Survey showed people whose gender identity differed from their birth sex rated their overall cancer experience lower than their peers, at 8.63 out of 10.^{[footnote 11]} There is a lack of further data sources for this protected characteristic.

Screening has been identified as an area of concern for gender reassignment, with some people losing access to sex-specific care after changing their gender marker. This means no longer being invited for relevant cancer screening, and possibly being invited for inappropriate screening, with implications for physical and mental health.

Barriers have also been reported including discrimination and a lack of inclusive services, which can lead to poorer outcomes and experiences.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan sets out how the NHS is acting to tackle barriers and increase uptake in underscreened communities. This includes continuing to improve screening data by providing opt-in options for trans men and non-binary people. It also includes completing, by 2029, the national rollout of self-sampling to women and people with a cervix who have not taken up the offer of cervical screening.

The move in the plan to neighbourhood cancer care (including personalised care, mental health support, longer-term support and community care), in partnership with specialist organisations, means greater support for people with cancer, including those who have changed gender.

The government will ensure that all cancer patients, no matter their gender identity, have the opportunity to join a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where one is available.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

The National Cancer Plan is expected to benefit all people with cancer through its focus on increasing screening and moving to neighbourhood cancer care, and on research inclusivity. Its policies on opt-in options, self-sampling and personalised care should benefit people with cancer who have had their gender reassigned, giving them greater support through their cancer care. The anticipated benefits are for all people - we do not expect those who share this protected characteristic to be disproportionately impacted.

Religion or belief

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

While there is limited data on how religion or belief impacts people with cancer, stakeholder evidence suggests particular communities are less likely to take up healthcare appointments such as screening invitations.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

Through the cancer alliances, the NHS is taking steps to reach those who are currently not attending their screening services, exploring routes with community organisations, including faith groups, and finding alternative ways to reach people for these vital services.

The National Cancer Plan’s neighbourhood early diagnosis fund will provide cancer alliances with funding to reduce inequalities among ethnic minorities and other groups, among whom rates of early diagnosis are lower, which may include those of particular faiths. Cancer alliances will work with community groups and charities to identify barriers to earlier diagnosis, and co-design effective local campaigns to maximise their impact. This might include building on local community knowledge of different religious and cultural practices (such as fasting periods and beliefs around taking medication) to provide culturally relevant guidance and to build trust and support people through their cancer care.

More broadly, neighbourhood cancer care will mean charity and community organisations, including local faith organisations, working with the NHS to use simple but effective interventions, such as exercise programmes, to help people to prepare for treatment, recover and thrive following cancer.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

The National Cancer Plan’s focus on earlier diagnosis encourages targeted approaches. Cancer alliances will reach out to those who are not attending screening services to identify symptoms at an early stage, to increase early diagnosis rates. This means that people of different faiths, and those with no faith, are all likely to benefit from greater access to screening and diagnostic and treatment services, with no evidence that any group would benefit more than another. The anticipated benefits are for all people - we do not expect those who share this protected characteristic to be disproportionately impacted.

Pregnancy and maternity

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

While there is limited data on this protected characteristic, data we do have suggests 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 2,000 pregnancies are affected by a cancer diagnosis.^{[footnote 16]} Although cancer in pregnancy is a rare event, it is becoming more common. The reasons for this include the increasing incidence of cancer risk factors such as obesity, and that more women are choosing to become pregnant later in life.

In the National Cancer Plan call for evidence, concerns were raised about the provision of cancer aftercare for those with young families. For those with infant caring responsibilities and part-time working arrangements, it can be difficult to access hospital services long-term.

Evidence suggests that support for pregnant women diagnosed with cancer is limited. This is because there isn’t enough research into their specific needs and the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan’s commitment to better linkage of data, including the linking of cancer registration and maternity services data, will allow us to build the evidence base for women using maternity services, giving us a more detailed understanding of their outcomes and experience.

The plan’s focus on earlier diagnosis, including through the continued expansion of community diagnostic centres, will increase capacity, bringing services closer to where people live. The move to a neighbourhood health service will help pregnant or postnatal women with cancer by redesigning care around their lives, shifting cancer diagnosis and treatment closer to where they live, and improving follow-up care and longer-term support in the community.

The shift to digital set out in the 10 Year Health Plan will mean pregnant and postnatal women can more easily and flexibly book their appointments, have greater choice and give feedback on their experience.

Efforts are being made to make research more inclusive through NIHR’s Research Inclusion Strategy 2022 to 2027. Through the National Cancer Plan, every patient will have the opportunity to join a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where one is available.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Overall, the National Cancer Plan has several actions that will improve outcomes for all people with cancer, including for pregnant and postnatal women through prevention and earlier diagnosis, specifically by the continued expansion of community diagnostic centres, which will increase capacity closer to where people live. Further improvements include treatment that will be closer to home and greater research inclusivity, ensuring those sharing the protected characteristic of pregnancy and maternity will be able to access a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where available. These actions will benefit pregnant and postnatal women in particular, by reducing barriers associated with travel, caring responsibilities and the need to co-ordinate cancer care alongside maternity services.

Marriage and civil partnership

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

While there is limited evidence on marriage and civil partnership in relation to cancer, some studies have suggested that social support in the form of marriage or civil partnership can be associated with better survival.^{[footnote 17]}

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan sets out plans to deliver cancer care through the neighbourhood health service, shifting cancer diagnosis and treatment closer to where people live, and improving follow up care and longer-term support in the community.

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

The overall impact of the National Cancer Plan on marriage and civil partnership is expected to be neutral. There may be a minor positive impact from the move to neighbourhood care, through its potential to provide support to those who might not be married or in civil partnerships. The anticipated benefits are for everyone - we do not expect those who share this protected characteristic to be disproportionately impacted.

Other equalities considerations beyond the Public Sector Equality Duty

The National Cancer Plan also supports compliance with the Secretary of State’s duty to reduce inequalities under section 1C of the National Health Service Act 2006. As many people who experience health inequalities and deprivation fall within a protected group, we have considered that duty as part of this analysis, notwithstanding that it is a separate duty to the Public Sector Equality Duty. This analysis is detailed below.

Inclusion health groups

Inclusion health groups are groups who experience inequalities due to factors such as homelessness, drug and alcohol dependence or being victims of modern slavery, among other disadvantages.

Section 1C of the NHS Act 2006 also confers a separate duty on the Secretary of State as to reducing inequalities, by which the Secretary of State, in exercising functions in relation to the health service, must have regard to the need to reduce inequalities between the people of England with respect to the benefits that they can obtain from the health service.

We have considered that duty as part of this analysis, notwithstanding that it is a separate duty to the Public Sector Equality Duty.

How cancer currently affects these groups

People experiencing homelessness are exposed to higher rates of cancer risk factors, including:

high smoking rates
alcohol consumption
substance abuse
poor diet
environmental pollutants

Cirrhosis and fatty liver disease, which are closely associated with being overweight and/or excessive alcohol consumption, may be precursors of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. Many homeless people face challenges accessing screening and experience profound barriers to care.

Veterans also have high rates of tobacco and alcohol consumption, often related to lifestyle behaviours in the military community.

People experiencing cancer in prisons often face difficulties, including:

challenges accessing GP appointments
security policies restricting access to support
limited communication with oncology clinicians
limited availability of prison officer escorts for appointments

One study found people in prison were less likely to receive curative treatment than those in the general population.^{[footnote 18]}

Young people leaving care who are diagnosed with cancer often encounter inequalities. They are more likely than their peers to experience worse health outcomes, struggle with socioeconomic challenges and lose their support networks when transitioning out of care.

Victims of modern slavery face repeated challenges accessing healthcare, including confusion around eligibility criteria and a lack of understanding from healthcare professionals, which act as a barrier to cancer prevention and timely diagnosis and treatment.

Sex workers tend to face high morbidity and mortality, driven by challenges such as mental health, substance abuse, homelessness and barriers to healthcare. Female sex workers are at significantly higher risk of developing cervical cancer due to higher prevalence of high-risk HPV types in this group.

Digital illiteracy or exclusion can cause health inequalities in cancer care, with an estimated 1.6 million people currently living offline.

People living in remote, rural or coastal communities can often also face poorer access to care, later diagnoses and less radical treatment. Concerns have been raised about travel, appointment availability and geographic variation in access to genomic testing and specialist treatment.

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan sets out how the community liver health checks programme will be rolled out to new areas, identifying people with cirrhosis and fatty liver disease and offering them regular checks for cancer. It also sets out how lung cancer screening will be fully rolled out for those with a history of smoking.

The neighbourhood early diagnosis fund will provide cancer alliances with funding to reduce inequalities in disadvantaged communities and groups among whom rates of early diagnosis are lower, including inclusion health groups. Alliances will work with community groups and charities to identify barriers to earlier diagnosis, and co-design effective local campaigns to maximise their impact. Through the neighbourhood health service, cancer diagnosis and treatment will be closer to where people live, with improved follow-up care and longer-term support in the community.

Through the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which focuses on building skills, tackling data and device poverty and building confidence, people will be supported in the move towards digital.

How these actions could be expected to impact on this group

The policies set out in the National Cancer Plan to prevent cancers, reach those who might be most in need through targeted screening and earlier diagnosis, and to deliver more care in the neighbourhood, will benefit all people, including inclusion health groups. Policies aimed at reducing variation, such as delivering treatments closer to home, will tackle current inequities and increase access, and so benefit some people in inclusion health groups in particular.

Deprivation

How cancer currently affects people in deprived areas

People in deprived areas tend to:

have higher risk factors (for example, higher levels of smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity)
have higher cancer incidence
have lower awareness of symptoms
present later
be diagnosed late
have less access to specialist care
receive less radical treatment

This leads to worse outcomes. Cancer Research UK reports that cancer death rates are nearly 60% higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived, with around 28,400 cancer deaths annually linked to socioeconomic inequality.^{[footnote 19]} Barriers such as difficulty accessing GPs contribute to poorer outcomes, while financial hardship and time poverty exacerbate inequalities throughout the cancer pathway.

National cancer audits demonstrate significant variation, for example showing that men from deprived areas are less likely to receive radical treatment for aggressive but curable prostate cancer. Patients from deprived areas and outside large academic centres are less likely to be offered the opportunity to take part in research, or may not be able to travel to a trial centre.

Survival data also demonstrates clear socioeconomic gradients. For lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death, 5-year survival in males falls from 18.6% in the least deprived area to 14.6% in the most deprived, and in females from 28.7% to 20.4%, indicating worse outcomes in more deprived groups.^{[footnote 20]}

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan’s proposals will build on the measures set out in the 10 Year Health Plan to tackle major cancer risk factors, such as stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption and encouraging active lifestyles. Proposals include taking further action against cancer-specific risks, and working with partners to improve awareness in disadvantaged areas. Hospitals will integrate opt-out cessation support into all routine care, and include smoking status in clinical assessments for non-urgent operations. £70 million more will be invested in local authority Stop Smoking services, continuing to support smokers to switch to vapes and encouraging pregnant smokers to quit. Steps will be taken to protect people from the risks associated with commercial sunbed use.

The National Cancer Plan will build on progress made. Since 2021, the NHS has delivered the first sustained increase in early diagnosis in a decade, with the fastest growth in the most disadvantaged communities. The gap in early diagnosis between the richest and poorest has narrowed. Lung cancer screening is transforming the early diagnosis of lung cancer, especially for the most disadvantaged. More than 2.6 million people have been invited for a Lung Health Check, as part of the biggest programme to improve early lung cancer diagnosis in health service history. Rollout of this programme will be completed by 2030, backed by targeted screening and surveillance, AI and other technologies, proactive primary care approaches, and a continued focus on disadvantaged communities. The neighbourhood early diagnosis fund will provide cancer alliances with funding to reduce inequalities in disadvantaged communities, informed by data and audit findings.

NIHR is committed to making research more inclusive and reaching underrepresented communities, so that trial results are generalisable to the population as a whole, with the introduction of the NIHR Inclusion Fund. Through the National Cancer Plan, every patient will have the opportunity to join a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where one is available.

How these actions could be expected to impact on this group

The policies set out in the National Cancer Plan to prevent cancers, building on those set in the 10 Year Health Plan, will likely positively impact those in the most deprived areas in particular by tackling major cancer risk factors that affect deprived populations. These include overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and diet. In addition, delivering targeted screening and checks such as the national lung screening programme to boost earlier diagnosis, deliver more care in the neighbourhood and to enable greater research, will benefit all people, including those in the most deprived areas. Furthermore, greater research inclusivity will ensure all people will be able to access a clinically relevant and appropriate trial where available.

Rare cancers

How cancer currently affects these groups

People with rarer and less common cancers often face different outcomes. As research by Cancer52 among others has shown, 47% of patients diagnosed with a rarer or less common cancer - defined as a cancer outside of bowel, breast, prostate, lung and skin cancers (such as brain cancer, stomach cancer or blood cancers) - make up a disproportionate 55% of cancer deaths in England.^{[footnote 21]} Some rarer cancers are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when they are harder to treat.

The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey shows that people with some rarer cancers - such as multiple myeloma and hepatobiliary cancers - were more likely to report lower than average experiences of care.^{[footnote 11]}

There has been a slower pace of research into rarer cancers, meaning fewer innovative and cutting-edge treatments becoming available. This limits the treatments options for people with rarer and less common cancers and therefore impacts their outcomes.

Nearly a quarter of patents with rarer and less common cancers see a GP 3 or more times before being referred.^{[footnote 22]}

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

The National Cancer Plan will give rarer cancers parity with more common cancers in government policy. It sets an ambition by 2035 to be in the top quartile internationally for survival for 14 less common cancers. To deliver this will require a significant effort to improve survival for cancers like brain, ovarian, pancreatic and stomach cancer. It commits to appointing a national specialty lead for rarer cancers to speak up for rarer cancers, to improve research and therefore help improve outcomes.

Through the plan, there will be increased specificity of data, to understand where interventions are needed and to make interventions as effective as possible. New, more proactive approaches will be taken to identify people at greater risk of developing cancers with less easily identifiable symptoms (including many rare cancers) and offer them regular checks. More support will be given to GPs to identify cancers earlier, with AI-driven clinical decision support tools and safety netting to help pick up patients at greater risk. This will be reinforced by Jess’s Rule, which will ensure GPs reflect, review and re-think repeat symptoms that could indicate cancer.

The plan will speed up access to targeted and personalised therapies for rare cancers. There will be cancer manuals for rarer cancers with the lowest survival rates, so that patients benefit from evidence-based treatments and high-quality care to give them the best chance of survival. Specialist multidisciplinary teams covering multiple providers will ensure patients with rarer cancers have access to evidence-based care. The government will explore arrangements with industry to incentivise research and development into new treatments.

The National Cancer Plan sets out that all patients will have access to a clinical nurse specialist or other named lead from 2026, to support them through their cancer care. Support will also be provided through the Diagnosis Connect programme, in collaboration with cancer charities, to connect patients with rarer cancers with patient-led communities and sources of expert support and advice.

Through the plan, there will be increased spending on research for rarer cancers. The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission will be supported to extend its approach to other rare cancers, expanding research into rarer cancers. There will be support to ensure early-stage research is pulled through into translational research, to deliver new diagnostics and treatments for patients. There will be the full implementation of the Rarer Cancers Bill (subject to Royal Assent), including offering patients with rarer cancers the opportunity to be part of clinical trials.

How these actions could be expected to impact on this group

Overall, the measures set out in the National Cancer Plan will help to raise survival for the least survivable cancers. Rare cancers will be caught earlier, access to targeted and personalised therapies will be sped up, and research breakthroughs will be incentivised, meaning better outcomes. Through the policies set out, there will also be greater support for people with rarer and less common cancers, both from specialist staff and from charities, meaning better experiences for patients. There will be a positive impact from the plan’s policies on this group of people with rarer and less common cancers.

Question 5

Engagement and involvement

Accepted Answer

Evidence and testing

We have carried out an extensive programme of engagement with stakeholders across the cancer community in order to gather evidence to inform the development of the National Cancer Plan. On 4 February 2025, we launched a call for evidence for the plan, which closed on 29 April 2025. We received over 11,000 responses from individuals, professionals and organisations who have shared their views on how we can do more to achieve our ambition. These submissions have been used to inform our plan to improve cancer care.

A series of external reference groups comprised of clinical advisory and charity experts, patient representatives and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England drafting leads were set up across several of the themes of the cancer plan, including:

prevention
earlier diagnosis
access and operational performance
treatment
living with and beyond cancer
research and innovation

We worked closely with charity partners to advise on attendees and external experts for these groups. The purpose of these groups was to develop ideas for the main parts of the National Cancer Plan. They did this by:

identifying where further policy work was needed
looking at current challenges and possible interventions
finding the right external partners and experts to involve
making sure that patients’ views were included throughout the process

We have also carried out targeted engagement with people with lived experience. We have worked closely with the NHS Patient and Public Voice Forum, with representatives sitting on each of our external reference groups to ensure patients’ views are prioritised throughout the plan. Furthermore, we have collaborated with partners to carry out wide ranging patient engagement, including a series of Macmillan community engagement events and a patient and family engagement session with Maggie’s.

Shaping policy or proposal

Additionally, we have collaborated with the NHS Race and Health Observatory and Macmillan to run a series of discussions with charities, grassroots and community organisations with a focus on tackling inequalities in cancer care. These discussions have been used to identify important issues and solutions. The first of these sessions was centred on problem diagnosis and the second session focused on interventions and solutions to address these, ensuring that we used our partner expertise to co-produce and test the recommendations for tackling inequalities in cancer care within the National Cancer Plan.

Alongside these inequalities discussions, we have worked with partners across the cancer community. This included a series of workshops focused on rarer cancers with Cancer52 member organisations, partnership working discussions with cancer charities, research and innovation discussions with industry organisations, discussions with the royal colleges and a series of webinars with One Cancer Voice members.

A non-exhaustive list of stakeholders we worked with includes:

rare cancer charities, including Cancer52 and Pancreatic Cancer UK, Sarcoma UK, Neuroendocrine Cancer UK and Neuroblastoma UK
common cancer charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Prostate Cancer UK and Bowel Cancer UK
charities for cancer research, including Cancer Research UK, North West Cancer Research and the Roy Castle Lung Foundation
children and young person cancer charities, including the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, Shine Cancer Support and Teenage Cancer Trust
charities for people living with cancer and patient experience, including Alike, Look Good Feel Better, Macmillan, Maggie’s and Trekstock
charities tackling inequalities, including Cancer Black Care and OUTpatients LGBT Cancer Charity
royal colleges, including the Royal College of Radiologists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing
industry bodies, including AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline, GRAIL, Moderna, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Pfizer, Phillips and Roche Dx
Siemens and Thermo Fisher Scientific

Evidence collated so far, including the main findings from the call for evidence, will be used to inform implementation planning, future policy development and ongoing equality analysis.

Question 6

Summary of analysis

Accepted Answer

Overall, the National Cancer Plan is expected to contribute positively towards the aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty. The plan will particularly benefit those groups who currently face inequalities in cancer care or outcomes.

The analysis has considered the 3 main aims:

Reduce the potential for discrimination (for example, by addressing structural barriers to health services and ensuring all patients can access screening and treatment). By embedding equity in training and service standards, the National Cancer Plan will also help to eliminate any potential discriminatory practices or biases in cancer care.
Advance equality of opportunity (for example, through provision of tailored support and targeted initiatives that improve access for underserved communities). This includes delivering more care through a neighbourhood health service model that brings cancer services into local communities (making it easier for groups like older or disabled patients and those in remote areas to get care), and expanding inclusive clinical trial opportunities for underrepresented groups. The National Cancer Plan will also take advantage of innovations like genomic testing to identify individuals with a hereditary risk of cancer, ensuring these people can receive early surveillance and preventive care regardless of their background.
Foster good relations between groups for example, by working in partnership with relevant local communities, particularly those previously underserved, to co-design prevention and early diagnosis campaigns and other services. This community engagement will help tackle stigma and isolation and ensure services meet the needs of different groups.

Overall, no adverse impacts on people with relevant protected characteristics have been identified. This conclusion is based on the available evidence and extensive stakeholder engagement (including over 11,000 responses to the call for evidence). Where differences exist in current outcomes, the National Cancer Plan is designed to narrow those gaps in a positive way. For example, evidence shows that certain ethnic minority groups and people in deprived areas often have later diagnoses and worse survival rates. The National Cancer Plan addresses this with targeted awareness campaigns and easier local access to screening and diagnostics, which should lead to improved outcomes for those groups. Similarly, older patients and those with disabilities will benefit from more flexible, close-to-home services and digital innovations (with support for those who are not digitally confident), meaning they can access care more conveniently.^{[footnote 23]}

In summary, no protected characteristic is expected to be disadvantaged by any aspect of the National Cancer Plan. The government will keep this finding under review as the plan is implemented, so that any unforeseen negative impacts can be identified and addressed promptly.

Overall impact

Equalities analysis indicates that the overall impact of the National Cancer Plan will be positive for people with relevant protected characteristics, and for other groups who face challenges in accessing services. The plan will help reduce unjustified variations in cancer outcomes and patient experience. It will do so by reducing discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Reducing health inequalities is a major ambition of the National Cancer Plan. This includes where inequalities arise for those living with cancer due to disadvantages associated with having a particular protected characteristic or another disadvantage such as deprivation. The plan explicitly aims to narrow the gaps in cancer outcomes that relate to a person’s protected characteristics as well as other factors such as deprivation or geography.

The National Cancer Plan recognises and seeks to remedy the fact that certain groups with protected characteristics - including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, older adults and disabled individuals - often experience lower cancer screening uptake and higher rates of emergency cancer diagnoses. These disparities may stem from a range of factors, such as language barriers, cultural stigma, limited health literacy or difficulties accessing primary care due to mobility issues or digital exclusion.

Addressing the impact on equalities

Ongoing consideration of the impact of the National Cancer Plan on equalities is required to ensure the government fulfils its duty under the Equality Act 2010, as well as its duty to reduce health inequalities under section 1C of the NHS Act 2006 with respect to the benefits that they can obtain from the Health Service in England.

The analysis did not reveal any intrinsic negative impacts of the National Cancer Plan on relevant protected characteristics. However, the government is committed to working to improve data quality, and to ensuring ongoing monitoring and proactive management of equalities issues as the plan is rolled out. As data linkage improves, so will the government’s understanding of how its policies affect the population. This means that as initiatives are implemented, we will continue to gather evidence on how different groups are affected and will take action to mitigate any unintended negative consequences if they arise. For example, if ongoing evaluation finds that a particular group is not benefiting as expected or faces new barriers, the approach will be adjusted, whether by adapting services, providing additional support or engaging directly with that community to find a solution.

Moreover, a number of broad actions are embedded in the National Cancer Plan to ensure equitable outcomes from the start. Cancer alliances and local health systems will be tasked with designing and delivering services that meet the needs of their communities. This includes by partnering with local patient groups and charities to improve reach and uptake of screening or treatment among historically excluded populations. The plan also builds on existing NHS England programmes focused on equality (such as the Core20PLUS5 framework, which targets health inequalities including early cancer diagnosis in deprived and minority groups) to make sure that improvements in cancer care reach every demographic. Through these mechanisms, the government and its health partners will fulfil their duty under the Equality Act 2010, keeping equality considerations at the forefront of implementation. In summary, the National Cancer Plan has been developed with equality in mind. Processes are in place to identify and address issues as they arise, and to ensure that no group is left behind as the plan is implemented. This includes improving data linkage and focusing on addressing any potential gaps.

Limitations of the public call for evidence included underrepresentation among ethnic minorities and men. Ethnic minorities were significantly underrepresented in the call for evidence - while 95% of individual respondents identified as White, this compares to only 81.7% of the population in England and Wales. Black individual respondents made up just 1% of responses compared to 4% of the population, while Asian respondents made up just 2% of responses compared to 9.3% of the population.

Men were notably underrepresented among individual respondents. Only 19% of individual respondents identified as male, compared to 80% who identified as female. This is a significant disparity, given that the population is roughly evenly split between men (49%) and women (51%).

After the call for evidence closed, we spoke directly with the groups who were underrepresented. This helped fill the gaps in the evidence and support fair policy development and implementation of the National Cancer Plan. Using these targeted discussions, the views shared by men and people from ethnic minority backgrounds have played an important role in shaping how the plan is being developed and delivered. These efforts ensure that the voices of those previously underrepresented inform both the design of interventions and monitoring strategies, helping to close gaps in participation and outcomes. As a result, the National Cancer Plan is better positioned to identify and address any persisting or emerging barriers, and to tailor solutions that reflect the diverse needs of England’s population. This ongoing, inclusive approach strengthens the plan’s commitment to equity, ensuring that as new evidence and experiences are captured, they translate into practical changes that benefit all communities.

Monitoring and evaluation

Effective governance, leadership and implementation oversight of the strategy from government, stakeholders and other delivery partners is essential to:

ensure accountability of the National Cancer Plan
ensure delivery of the goals set
ensure momentum on improving experience and outcomes for everyone with cancer

A reformed National Cancer Board chaired jointly by DHSC and an independent representative of the wider cancer community will track progress and provide regular updates to ministers. One member of the board will be designated to monitor the equalities impacts of the National Cancer Plan, including:

commissioning studies to improve understanding
preparing reports
recommending adjustments where necessary
providing regular updates to the board to ensure transparency and accountability

The plan’s commitment to better linkage of data will allow us to build the evidence base, giving us a more detailed understand of patients’ varied outcomes and experience. This will inform any recommendations for action to the board. More generally, DHSC will look to improve data quality and timeliness, and fill data gaps around equalities in partnership with stakeholders.

Ministers will publish an annual summary of progress, which will highlight achievements, track improvements (such as reductions in inequality gaps or waiting times), and flag any issues that need attention. In addition, the government will publish a more in-depth report after 3 years to assess where the National Cancer Plan needs updating and refreshing. This 3-year review will evaluate overall progress in detail - including whether the plan’s actions are effectively reducing inequalities - and will identify if any parts of the plan need to be updated or strengthened. Through this robust monitoring and evaluation framework, the government will ensure that the National Cancer Plan stays on track to deliver its ambitious goals and continues to promote equality, eliminate discrimination and improve outcomes for all people with cancer as intended.

Question 7

Conclusion

Accepted Answer

Reducing inequalities and health inequalities between people across England is an important ambition of the National Cancer Plan.

Policies such as the 3-year neighbourhood early diagnosis fund, which will form part of wider ring-fenced funding for cancer totalling £200 million in 2026 to 2027, will mean cancer alliances can support local commissioners and neighbourhoods. This will help to reduce inequalities in economically disadvantaged communities and among ethnic minorities and other groups, among whom rates of early diagnosis are lower. Alliances will also work with community groups and charities to identify barriers to earlier diagnosis, and co-design effective local campaigns to maximise their impact. These measures, and many more, will play a significant role in addressing barriers, tackling inequalities and working to improve outcomes for those most in need.

The National Cancer Plan is designed to ensure patients can get rapid care - no matter who they are or where they live. It will save lives, improve quality of life for all people living with cancer and improve both outcomes and experience.

Cookies on GOV.UK

Applies to England

Introduction

Intended aims

Effect on patients

Effect on carers

Analysis of impacts

Disability

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Sex

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic[footnote 5]

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Sexual orientation

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Race

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Age

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Gender reassignment

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Religion or belief

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Pregnancy and maternity

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Marriage and civil partnership

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on people with this protected characteristic

Other equalities considerations beyond the Public Sector Equality Duty

Inclusion health groups

How cancer currently affects these groups

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on this group

Deprivation

How cancer currently affects people in deprived areas

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on this group

Rare cancers

How cancer currently affects these groups

Relevant actions from the cancer plan

How these actions could be expected to impact on this group

Engagement and involvement

Evidence and testing

Shaping policy or proposal

Summary of analysis

Overall impact

Addressing the impact on equalities

Monitoring and evaluation

Conclusion

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

How cancer currently affects people with this protected characteristic^{[footnote 5]}