In 2016 we made real progress in the fight to deliver change for people affected by cancer. Here’s our look back at what we have achieved together over the past 12 months. Check out our latest campaigns for 2017 here.
Putting the fair back into welfare
We kicked off the year continuing the campaign to put the fair back into welfare.
7,000 people wrote to their MP about the impact of the Government’s proposed £30 per week cut to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) on cancer patients.
Sadly, MPs narrowly voted in favour of the cut, but our campaign continues in 2017. Make sure the Government is listening to people affected by cancer by sharing your views on ESA.
The Government was forced to drop its proposals to change the assessment criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Find out more about the campaign to protect this vital benefit for people with cancer.
Improved end of life care
Thanks to Macmillan campaigners pushing for action, we won a major commitment from Government to improve end of life care in England.
Without changes, nearly 65,000 people dying of cancer would experience poor overall care in their last three months of life over the next five years.
The Government set out an action plan to make sure end of life doesn’t mean the end of choice.
Cancer strategies
Responding to Macmillan’s campaign calls, for the first time NHS England set out what funding would be available for the implementation of the Cancer Strategy for England over the next four years. Read our response here.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, thousands of campaigners took part in our award-winning Time to Choose campaign in the run up to May’s elections, ensuring candidates understood cancer care was a top priority for voters.
This was followed by the first ‘Cancer Patient Experience Survey’ in partnership with the Scottish Government, to better understand people’s experience of cancer care.
In Northern Ireland, Macmillan campaigners called on the Health Minister and committee members to deliver a cancer strategy for Northern Ireland.
And in Wales, we had a campaign success as the Welsh Government published the ‘Cancer Delivery Plan for Wales 2016-2020’, which commits to some key calls from our election manifesto.
Tackling the carers’ crisis
In England, 15,000 Macmillan campaigners signed a petition backing our campaign to make sure that the Government’s new Carers’ Strategy recognises and addresses the needs of people caring for someone with cancer.
Our report, Under pressure, highlighted that around 110,000 people in the UK are caring for a parent with cancer while also looking after children at home.
In Scotland, we worked with other charities to influence the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. This new law should mean more carers get a ‘Carer’s Support Plan’ to give them social and financial help.
Work and cancer
In November Terry, who was sacked from his job after being diagnosed with blood cancer, and Macmillan CEO Lynda Thomas, appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire show as we called for better support and an end to the discrimination faced by people returning to work after cancer. Find out more about work and cancer.
A top priority for decision makers
Throughout 2016 we worked to make sure cancer remains a top priority for decision makers.
From holding World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and ‘Britain Against Cancer’ events in parliaments and assemblies, to attending party conferences, we ensured the voices of people affected by cancer continued to be heard.
Thank you
We want to say a big thank you for all your support for people affected by cancer in 2016.
Stay up-to-date with our latest campaign work throughout 2017, join our campaigner network today.
