Children with cancer 'to get free travel' as part of new £10m scheme to help kids battling disease
Families with children battling cancer are to have their travel costs paid for under a new £10 million scheme.
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Young people up to the age of 24 will qualify for the National Cancer Plan, regardless of income levels.
The Government proposal is set to be fully unveiled on Wednesday, which is said to be part of a wider package aimed at transforming young people's cancer care.
The plan will see improvements to diagnosis, expanded genomic testing to better access to clinical trials and more psychological support.
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Charities welcomed the move, with Rachel Kirby-Rider, chief executive officer of Young Lives vs Cancer, saying: "The 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."
According to the Department of Health, more than a third of families where a child has cancer travel over an hour to reach hospital for appointments.
Emma Wilding’s son Theo was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in October 2024 when he was five months old.
Alder Hey children’s hospital is 45 minutes away from the family home in West Lancashire.
📢 Wednesday is World Cancer Day and that's when we'll publish the National Cancer Plan.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) February 2, 2026
Marrying the very best of British science with our NHS, this plan is how we'll get cancer care from where it is today to where it needs to be.@WesStreeting explains more 👇 pic.twitter.com/f7dUotS1ZZ
Ms Wilding 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. Sitting on the ward, I met so many other families also struggling with these costs, many travelling from much further away from hospital as well.
"I know this news is going to mean so much to young people and families of children with cancer, so they won’t have to worry so much about how they’ll afford to get to hospital."
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting added: "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.
"This small change will make the world of difference to parents.
"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."
The plan is also expected to carry more detail on supporting England’s 830,000 working-age cancer patients to remain in employment during and after treatment.