Government to cover travel costs for children with cancer in £10m support boost

For parents of a child with cancer, life quickly becomes a cycle of hospital appointments, treatments and long days spent by their child’s bedside. Now, the Government has announced a new £10 million a year fund to cover travel costs for children and young people with cancer, aiming to lift one of the biggest financial pressures families face during treatment.

The support will be available to all families, regardless of income, and will help cover the cost of travelling to and from specialist cancer care across England. It comes as more than a third of families currently travel over an hour to reach hospital, often several times a week, for months or even years at a time.

There are 13 specialist centres caring for children with cancer in England, meaning long journeys are unavoidable for many families. Petrol, train fares, parking fees and lost earnings can quickly add up, turning an already devastating diagnosis into a serious financial strain.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the aim is to ensure families can focus on their child, not the cost of getting to hospital.

He 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. 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.”

Travel costs can hit families hard

For many parents, cancer treatment means cutting back work hours or stopping work altogether. At the same time, travel costs rise sharply, sometimes forcing families to make impossible choices about heating, food or bills.

Emma Wilding from West Lancashire knows this reality all too well. Her son Theo was diagnosed with Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in October 2024 when he was just five months old. The family had to travel 45 minutes each way to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, paying for fuel and parking while their household income dropped.

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 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.”

What the new fund will cover

The new travel fund is part of the National Cancer Plan and will provide up to £10 million a year to support families with travel costs linked to cancer care. It will be open to all children and young people with cancer up to the age of 24.

The aim is to ensure no family has to choose between being present for their child’s treatment and being able to afford everyday essentials.

Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said the fund addresses a long-standing gap in support. He 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.”

Support welcomed by cancer charities

Charities working with families affected by childhood cancer have welcomed the announcement.

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive of Young Lives vs Cancer, said families have been campaigning for this type of support for almost a decade. She said: “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.”

Teenage Cancer Trust also highlighted the importance of removing barriers to care. Interim Chief Executive Jules Worrall said: “By including a specific focus on young people with cancer, the National Cancer Plan for England has the potential to reduce the impact of this devastating disease.”

More changes planned for young cancer patients

The travel fund sits alongside wider plans to improve cancer care for children and young people. These include better access to clinical trials, expanded genomic testing, earlier diagnosis and improved mental health and psychosocial support during and after treatment.

Hospital stays are also set to improve, with a review of NHS food standards to ensure children have access to high-quality, child-friendly meals, even outside normal mealtimes. Play provision and youth support coordinators will help children and teenagers cope emotionally, socially and practically during long hospital stays.

Around 1,900 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in England each year. For many families, this new fund could mean one less worry during an already overwhelming time, allowing parents to focus on what matters most: being there for their child.