A clear consensus emerged from yesterday’s (21st May) Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Rarer and Less Common Cancers Workshop: addressing these cancers is no longer a matter of choice — it is a national priority.
The workshop brought together charities and civil servants, with the aim of shaping the Government’s long-term Cancer Plan.
Too often neglected, brain tumours and other rare cancers were firmly on the agenda at this event — offering a vital opportunity to drive forward meaningful change.
Christopher Walden, CEO of Cancer52, opened the session by welcoming sustained engagement from DHSC, but stressed that real progress will only be seen through action.
Shane Cohen-Murray, Head of Cancer Strategy at DHSC, reiterated the need to ensure that all voices are heard, particularly those from underrepresented cancer communities.
“What gets measured gets done,” he said, calling for a 10-year, impact-focused plan that prioritises survival and quality of life.
Minister Ashley Dalton MP, who is living with metastatic cancer, delivered some of the day’s most compelling contributions, speaking with compassion and urgency: “People living with incurable cancer have been ignored for too long… Rare cancers used to be considered too difficult to deal with. This Cancer Plan is changing that.”
She also referenced her recent meeting with Brain Tumour Research, the Tessa Jowell Foundation, Alberto Costa MP, and Laura Kurtul – who lost her six-year-old son Taylan to a brain tumour – where they discussed the vital need for lifesaving research and better support for brain tumour patients. Minister Dalton also spoke at the most recent meeting of the APPG on Brain Tumours.
Left to right: Alberto Costa MP, Minister Ashley Dalton and Laura Kurtul
The Minister underlined that a key NHS priority is to make systems more efficient and joined-up. She added that, through strong partnerships with charities and organisations, the Government has the opportunity to be both innovative and bold in transforming outcomes for people with rare and less common cancers.
Thomas Brayford, our Policy and Public Affairs Manager, asked the Minister a question whether the Government supports Scott Arthur’s Rare Cancers Bill proposal for regular reporting to Parliament on progress for rare and less common cancers, and whether this would be reflected in the National Cancer Plan. The Minister confirmed that the Government supports the Bill, and therefore supports the principle of regular parliamentary reporting.
Importantly, it was confirmed that the Cancer Plan will be published after the NHS 10-Year Plan, as it will reflect and align with some of the wider reforms being set out in that broader strategic document. The workshop highlighted several shared priorities:
- Improving early diagnosis and boosting survival rates for rare cancers
- Increasing collaboration between charities, NHS bodies, and researchers
- Tackling health inequalities that affect access to care and outcomes
- Investing in workforce and digital infrastructure to support long-term change
- Aligning efforts with broader Government strategies, including the 10-Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Strategy
We welcome the progress made in yesterday’s discussions and will continue to push for action that matches the urgency and scale of this critical challenge.
"Brain Tumour Research welcomes the opportunity to continue working with the Department of Health and Social Care on the Cancer Plan, and urges the inclusion of clear mechanisms for regular review and accountability once the plan is published," said Thomas. "It's essential that the Government sets out a bold, ambitious vision — and works in close partnership with charities such as Brain Tumour Research to turn that vision into reality."
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