UK Cancer Patients Forced to Travel Long Distances for Treatment, Macmillan Warns
September 3, 2025
Thousands of cancer patients across the UK are facing serious barriers to care, with many forced to travel long distances for vital tests and treatment, according to a new report by Macmillan Cancer Support.
The charity revealed that around four in ten patients have struggled to access timely care because of where they live. This includes long travel times, repeated requests for unavailable tests, or choosing distant hospitals to reduce waiting times.
Long Journeys Putting Lives at Risk
More than a third (36%) of patients said they regularly travel over an hour for a scan or treatment. Alarmingly, around 3% admitted turning down tests or treatments because of the distance, which Macmillan estimates could put up to 100,000 lives at risk.
One case highlighted was Daisy, a 17-year-old from North Wales, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year. With no local services available, she had to travel up to six hours round trip to Liverpool for her care, sometimes several times a week.
“Whilst the support in Liverpool was fantastic, it was incredibly tough. My mum had to give up work to take me, and I often worried about infections or emergencies during the long journeys,” Daisy explained.
NHS Struggles to Meet Targets
Latest NHS England figures show some progress, with 76.8% of patients diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days of an urgent referral in June, up slightly from May. However, only 67.1% began treatment within 62 days, still below the government’s 75% target by March 2026.
Macmillan estimates that 60,000 more patients could have started treatment on time last year if waiting times across the UK matched the best-performing regions.
Call for Urgent Action
Dr. Anthony Cunliffe, Macmillan’s lead medical adviser, warned that where a patient lives is still shaping their cancer journey.
“For too many people with cancer, it feels like a flip of a coin whether they get the treatment they need. No one should be left behind simply because of their postcode.”
Macmillan is urging the government and NHS to ensure that all cancer patients, regardless of location, receive equal access to timely and effective care.
