Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I am writing to update Members of the Senedd about the Welsh Government’s intention to introduce a national cancer strategy, in line with our commitment.
There can be little doubt that cancer – the leading broad cause of mortality in Wales – is one of the most pressing health priorities facing every advanced economy in the western world.
As I mentioned during plenary on 17 June, many of us will be familiar with the statistic that one in two people will be affected by cancer in their lifetime. But this should not be a statistic to scare people; rather, it should rally us to action.
So, I am pleased to announce today the development of a ten-year National Cancer Strategy for Wales. The first Welsh Government cancer strategy since 2006.
Our new cancer strategy will set out an ambitious future for cancer care in Wales.
It will give the NHS in Wales the clarity it needs to focus on this set of conditions and to deliver better services and better outcomes for the people of Wales.
It will reaffirm our commitment to achieving national cancer waiting times in line with the best in Europe, support the NHS to prepare for future change and innovation in clinical practice, outline our approach to prevention and addressing regional and rural inequality, and help take forward our wider manifesto commitments on cancer.
I am to bring forward our strategy in time for World Cancer Day on 4 February 2027. This will represent an important moment for Wales to signal its contribution and ambition in the global effort against cancer.
As a member of the European Cancer Organisation, I am keen that we in Wales learn from international best practice and innovation and maintain close ties with our European partners.
We will be reaching out to the NHS, the third sector, and other partners over the coming months to engage with them and hear their views about what needs to happen.
I have already requested a meeting with the Wales Cancer Alliance of more than thirty cancer-related charities to hear their thoughts and suggestions.
We will be launching a formal call for evidence within the first 100 days of the new government, to provide an opportunity for people to help shape the strategy’s development, ensuring our approach is grounded in the latest evidence and is clinically led.
And I ask Members, their constituents, and all other stakeholders with an interest in cancer care and outcomes to share their insights as part of that process. Given that cancer will affect one in two of us over the course of our lives, I am determined to ensure that.
We also have a range of other important commitments on cancer, and we are moving at pace to deliver them.
In line with our 100 days plan, we are developing options on introducing Right to Be Forgotten principles to support people who have long ago been given the cancer ‘all clear’ but who may still face difficulty accessing financial services.
We have begun scoping the potential for a travel and accommodation fund for children and young people attending their cancer appointments, and I will announce further detail in due course.
We are also commissioning a feasibility study for establishing a new Rapid Diagnostic Centre (RDC) in Powys to address gaps in provision in the county, we have requested a visit from the European Cancer Pulse initiative for 2027 to assess regional and social disparities in the quality of cancer care in Wales and we are in the process of arranging a Wales Cancer Conference for 2027, bringing together healthcare professionals and stakeholders to share best practice and latest innovation on cancer care from across Wales.
Delivering improvements for people affected by cancer is a priority for this Government, and I have been clear that publication of the strategy cannot wait.
Over the coming six months up to February 2027, we will be moving at considerable pace to review evidence, engage with stakeholders, and to draft, agree, and publish our strategy.
This underlines our clear commitment to improving cancer care and will continue to work with all partners to improve cancer outcomes for our people.