Macmillan Cancer Support has announced it will scrap its £14 million annual Macmillan cancer benefits advice service by the end of 2026, sparking outrage among welfare advisers, patients, and healthcare charities. The move will affect tens of thousands of vulnerable cancer patients who rely on the service for help navigating the UK benefits system during treatment.
The service, run in partnership with Citizens Advice across 70 local branches, helped more than 34,000 cancer patients secure £112 million in financial support in 2022 alone. A significant portion of those supported were living in poverty or were pensioners. The advice covers essential needs such as food, heating, and transport, particularly for those unable to work due to illness.
Macmillan Cites Unsustainable Costs Despite High Demand
Macmillan has defended the decision by citing long-term financial unsustainability. Its income in 2023 was £233 million, while expenditures reached £262 million. Chief partnerships officer Steven McIntosh acknowledged the impact the service has had but warned the current model can no longer meet growing demand.
To ease the transition, Macmillan will extend funding to May 2026 while exploring alternative arrangements with Citizens Advice. However, critics argue that ending the service contradicts the charity’s mission and disproportionately affects the poorest cancer patients.
Backlash Over Frontline Cuts Amid Leadership Spending
The decision follows Macmillan’s earlier cuts, including a £17 million hardship fund and 25% of staff roles. Former staff and advisers expressed dismay that frontline roles are being eliminated while high-salaried leadership positions remain untouched. One ex-employee stated: “I understand the need for cuts, but why target those who are making the biggest difference to patients’ lives?”
Advisers warned that the timing could not be worse, with impending government cuts to disability benefits—the primary focus of much of Macmillan’s financial guidance—likely to increase patient vulnerability.
Critics Say Macmillan Is Betraying Its Founding Principles
Many view the decision as a betrayal of Macmillan’s founding values. Welfare experts say the in-hospital presence of advisers has been “a godsend” for patients grappling with both illness and poverty. Critics accuse the charity of abandoning the very people it was established to help.
A Citizens Advice spokesperson confirmed ongoing discussions with Macmillan to explore future delivery models but acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the service’s future.
Calls for Transparency and Reinvestment in Patient Support
While Macmillan maintains it cannot “keep doing everything we previously did,” campaigners and former staff argue the charity must prioritise frontline services over administrative spending. With funding stretched, many are calling for greater transparency on executive pay and for donors to know how their contributions are being allocated.
The charity’s presence at a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by King Charles—just days after announcing the cuts—has further fuelled criticism, with some saying the event was in stark contrast to the reality faced by patients now at risk of losing vital financial support.
