We welcome the National Cancer Plan’s focus on children. Now it must deliver.
4 Feb 2026, 12:50 p.m.
Today, on World Cancer Day 2026, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity) welcomes the publication of the Government’s new National Cancer Plan for England.
We’re encouraged that it recognises that children and young people have unique needs when it comes to cancer care.
Now comes the important part: turning this plan into real action.
We need to see real progress in research, innovation and treatment for childhood cancer, to help give children the best chance, and best childhood, possible.
Right now, children with cancer are being left behind. Many are still being treated with drugs developed decades ago, and cancer remains the leading cause of death for children aged 1-14 in the UK.
Making the National Cancer Plan deliver for children like Maya
“She’s so strong, she was always smiling even when she was poorly.” Daisy, Maya’s mum.
Born with leukaemia, Maya (pictured above) came to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) when she was just six weeks old.
After chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, Maya got to ring the end of treatment bell.
Sadly, a month later, she relapsed.
Maya is now back at GOSH for another round of chemotherapy, but treatment options are running out.
“The only worry is that after this treatment, there’s nothing else to offer. We have to hope the cancer doesn’t come back,” says Daisy.
New treatments could make all the difference for Maya, yet research into children’s cancer remains significantly underfunded.
GOSH Charity is ready to work with the Government and others to make sure that this plan leads to the changes needed to improve options and outcomes for children going through cancer.
Building the future of children's cancer care
GOSH Charity is building a brand new, world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH. It will drive transformation in children’s cancer care and save more young lives. You can help us build it by donating to our Build it. Beat it. Appeal.
We’ve also launched a £6m national children’s clinical trial fund, to help address unmet needs in paediatric cancer research – specifically the hardest to treat cancers that have limited treatment options.
But we can’t do this alone. Government action is crucial to ensure that all children with cancer benefit from research and innovation – now, and for generations to come.