Families of young cancer patients who have been left hundreds of pounds out of pocket on petrol costs, train fares and parking fees will now receive money towards travel expenses from the government.
On average families spend about £250 a month travelling to the hospital to see their poorly child, which has forced some to cut back on essentials, like food and heating, to cover the cost.
However, it has now been revealed the NHS will set aside £10 million each year to reimburse these families for travel costs.
About 4,000 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK, with many facing long journeys to 13 specialist centres across the country.
The money will be made available to all children, teenagers and adults under the age of 25 undergoing treatment, regardless of their family income.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their family’s only focus should be on helping them recover and getting them well, not on whether they can afford the petrol or bus fare to get to their next appointment.
‘Our plan will leave no family out of pocket while their child goes through cancer. It doesn’t matter what you earn if your child needs treatment, we will help you get them there.
‘When a child is fighting cancer, their family should never have to fight the system too.’
Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that families will have the cost of travel to hospitals covered by the government
Emma Wilding experienced first-hand the financial difficulties of cancer treatment when her son Theo was diagnosed with Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in October 2024, when he was only five-months-old.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital is 45 minutes from their home, meaning the family were forced to spend hundreds of pounds in petrol and parking costs.
She said: ‘When Theo was going through treatment, we had no choice but to pay out for fuel and parking at the hospital, as we had to be by his side.
‘However, at a time when our household income had gone down, this was a struggle financially.
‘Sat on the ward, I met so many other families also struggling with these costs, many travelling much further away from hospital as well.’
Victoria Ward, from the Isle of Wight, was diagnosed with Lymphoma at 21 and had to travel via ferry for treatment at Southampton General Hospital.
The return ferry ticket alone could cost anywhere between £80 to £200 at peak times alongside a taxi to the hospital. The costs forced her to give up her flat.
Miss Ward said: If I was having my chemo in the morning and my clinic was 8am during rush hour, a taxi could be anywhere from £12 to £15 just to go up the road.
Families of children diagnosed with cancer will have the cost of travelling for treatment covered under a new scheme to be rolled out in England by 2027
‘The parking alone would cost us £20 to £23 a go. As much as people say “it’s only £20”, that £20 is my week’s food.
‘It was a case of I either keep my own safe space or die. I was previously homeless a year or so before I started my cancer treatment, so my flat was my achievement, so it was sad giving that up but it had to be done.’
The charity Young Lives vs Cancer has been campaigning for travel funds reimbursement for almost a decade.
Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive of the charity, said: ‘Young Lives vs Cancer has been campaigning for almost a decade for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund.
‘Today’s announcement of dedicated travel costs support is a huge step forward in transforming the lives of children and young people with cancer and their families.
‘Up until now, young people and families have been going into debt and even missing treatment because of the extra £250 every month just to travel to hospital. We’re ready to work with the government to make this a success.’
The announcement is part of a national cancer plan, which also aims to provide more mental health support for patients during and after treatment.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said: ‘Children with cancer need the best specialist treatment and this can sometimes mean repeated long-distance travel, adding to the pressures families face during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
‘This new fund will be available regardless of income so families avoid having to choose between being at their child’s bedside and covering the cost of travelling there.
‘Together with earlier diagnosis, emotional support, genomic testing and better access to trials, this will help deliver the new National Cancer Plan’s goal of improving care for children and young people with cancer.’
