CoppaFeel! responds to the Autumn Budget

Today, the UK Government sets out the Autumn Budget. Here are our thoughts on what they shared.

CoppaFeel! are the UK’s only breast cancer charity dedicated to raising awareness and improving outcomes for younger people. As a result, we’re happy to hear that the Government will…

• continue to try and reduce cancer waiting times
• bring care into communities
• invest in research and innovation across the health sector

However, today’s budget presents a mixed picture for younger people affected by breast cancer. It offers opportunities but still leaves a lot of critical gaps unaddressed.

The Government needs to act quickly to reduce long waiting lists. Targets for how long people should wait for breast cancer appointments and treatment are often missed, and younger people can be particularly affected. Addressing this problem has to be a top priority, as these delays can seriously impact people’s outcomes and wellbeing.

We understand how important it is to invest in neighbourhood health centres that make it easier for people to get care close to home. Many marginalised groups already face some of the worst outcomes when it comes to spotting breast cancer early, getting treatment, and staying well long-term. This move can help to reduce unfair differences in healthcare across communities.

However, moving more care into the community can’t mean losing the specialist skills and high-quality cancer services people rely on. Younger people, in particular, can experience more complex and/or fast-growing types of breast cancer. They need quick access to expert care that’s designed for their age group and delivered by specialists who truly understand their needs.

We’re glad to see ongoing funding for research programmes, like the Cancer Data-Driven Detection Programme and the Genomic Population Health workstream. These projects could help find breast cancer earlier and identify people at higher risk.

Focusing more on research is a good step, but it’s important that the Government also supports projects that look specifically at the needs of younger people. Right now, younger patients often have worse experiences when getting diagnosed and face longer waits for treatment. Their needs must be recognised and fully addressed.

Younger people deserve timely diagnosis, world-class treatment, and the best possible chance of survival. CoppaFeel! stands ready to work with the Government, researchers and the NHS to improve younger people’s outcomes – from prevention to early detection, care and beyond.