About cancer
The Cancer Drugs Fund
The Cancer Drugs Fund was set up by the government in 2011 to improve access to cancer drugs that were not yet available on the NHS. These include drugs that have not yet been assessed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) who approve all drugs offered by the NHS and those which NICE have ruled are not cost effective, ie, do not show enough benefit to justify the cost of the drug.
The Cancer Drugs Fund was reviewed in 2016, and the new system is the product of partnership working between NHS England, NICE, Public Health England and the Department of Health.
The fund is only available to those treated in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own systems for deciding health budgets and so far have no plans to start a cancer drugs fund. The Cancer Drugs Fund list is regularly reviewed and the decision summaries are published on NHS England website.
The links below provide further information about the Cancer Drugs Fund, how applications can be made by your specialist (you can’t apply for yourself) and the decision process.
NHS England
National organisation
The main aim of NHS England is to improve the health outcomes for people in England.
The Pamela Northcott Fund
National organisation
The Pamela Northcott Fund is a voluntary organisation providing advocacy and support to cancer patients denied access to new drug therapies yet to be approved by NICE or refused by NICE.
Macmillan Cancer Support
National organisation
Macmillan Cancer Support is a large cancer charity which has merged with Cancerbackup. Both Macmillan and Cancerbackup are dedicated to supporting people affected by cancer. Macmillan develops and provides a wide range of medical, practical, emotional and financial services, including the distribution of information. Cancerbackup is the specialist cancer information charity, and provides over 6,000 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for patients with any type of cancer, their families and carers.
