One of the biggest third sector providers of support to people living with cancer says Scotland's national cancer strategy has delivered no significant improvement across several of its core aims.

Launching its manifesto ahead of May's election, Macmillan Cancer Support says one in four people with cancer in Scotland still lacks access to specialist nursing – something that has not changed since June 2022.

The Scottish government's cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 sets the ambitions to improve cancer survival and provide equitable access to excellent person-centred care. It highlights the importance of specialist nurses and having a single point of contact to help a patient make decisions about their treatment and recovery.

Despite the strategy’s central focus on reducing inequalities in access and outcomes, Macmillan today presented data showing 24% of people with cancer who wanted the support of a specialist cancer nurse during their NHS care either did not get it, or the support that they received wasn't enough to meet their needs.

In addition, Macmillan says recent data shows 49% of people living with cancer in Scotland have had impacts on their treatment and care that they might not have had, had they lived elsewhere in Scotland – including 46% of patients who said they had to travel an hour or more for a test, scan or treatment.

At the launch of the Macmillan manifesto in Edinburgh today, Carrol Pollock from Larbert, a retired primary school teacher shared her story of first being told that she had cancer following a routine mammogram, then experiencing fragmented care and delayed treatment.

Carrol says she waited weeks for a clear plan, despite being told that her cancer might be incurable – though on subsequent visits, she says this was played down. Then, after her treatments – chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy – she says she felt support dropped away:

“The delays and the impact of the uncertain incurable update was huge and left me feeling overwhelmed, powerless and unable to advocate for myself,” she said at the manifesto launch.

“No one should have to fight for better standards of cancer care. Better communication, less fragmented treatment and care and keeping to cancer waiting time targets are vital for improving outcomes for people with cancer in Scotland.”

Macmillan’s External Affairs Manager for Scotland, Peter Hastie is calling on the next government and parliament to take steps to improve the experience of people with cancer and their families:

“Without decisive action that goes further and faster than ever before, the gaps in outcomes for people with cancer in Scotland will remain unacceptably wide.

“The system is at crisis point and the pressures are growing. The people of Scotland deserve better from their cancer strategy.

“Macmillan is committed to being a partner in the challenges ahead. We will do whatever it takes to work alongside government, the health system, professionals, sector partners and most importantly, people living with cancer in Scotland – wherever they live, whichever community they’re from – to make it happen.”

Macmillan’s manifesto, available in full here, calls for:

• Bold action to tackle inequities in cancer care;
• Clear steps to address unwarranted variation in treatment and care;
• A revolution in cancer data and digital infrastructure, including the annual publication of detailed cancer statistics, broken down by deprivation and ethnicity, to drive a more equitable system; and
• Renewed commitment to delivering person-centred care.

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