The UK’s largest cancer care charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, has published its 2023 Annual Report and Accounts which highlights it has helped more than 2.3 million people affected by cancer in 2023, a quarter of a million more than in 2022. Its increasing support comes against the backdrop of an ongoing cost of living crisis, increasing pressures on the NHS, worsening waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment and stark health inequities that adversely impact many people with cancer’s outcomes and experiences.
The latest report and figures highlight the enormous impact Macmillan continues to have for people living with cancer in the UK, as well as their relatives and loved ones. In 2023, Macmillan gave direct one-to-one support to around 110,000 people via its Support Line service while Macmillan professionals including nurses, support workers and palliative care nurses reached approximately 730,000 people living with cancer as they went through diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, or end of life care.
Macmillan remains almost entirely funded by charitable donations from the public, with 98% of its income in 2023 coming from fundraising activities, and the remaining 2% from grant income, charitable activities, and investments. In 2023, Macmillan generated income totalling £232.5 million, an increase of 2.4% from 2022.
Macmillan’s latest accounts report an increased spend on its services for people living with cancer in 2023 of £184.9 million, up from £178.7 million in 2022. This is in line with its financial strategy to continue to invest in its services and respond appropriately to the changing external environment to deliver the greatest care and support for people living with cancer.
As part of the approach to move to holding an appropriate level of liquidity cover and spending down some of its reserves, Macmillan has spent approximately £100 million more than it has raised since 2018. This has come at a time when inflation and rising costs, the cost of living crisis as well as some of the worst waiting times for cancer treatment in the UK on recordi, has reflected a greater need to support even more people living with cancer.
However, the external environment has remained a challenging one and Macmillan’s 2023 Annual Report recognises this, including the difficult decisions made in March of this year to reduce the size of its workforce to help ensure the future stability of the organisation. The report also sets Macmillan’s sights on hope, and its plans to transform to adapt to the changing needs of people with cancer both now and in the future. Its ambition is to ensure better cancer care for everyone.
2023 marked the first year under the tenure of Gemma Peters, who joined the organisation as Chief Executive in January 2023. Gemma remains focused on the future and the challenges that lie ahead to ensure everyone in the UK can access equitable, timely and high-quality personalised cancer care and treatment.
“I am enormously proud of the work Macmillan does day in, day out for people living with cancer and I’d like to say a personal thank you to every single supporter, volunteer, colleague and professional who helps make that possible.
“We know that one in two of us will face cancer in our lifetimes and Macmillan’s services and support touch the lives of so many people across the UK. Since starting as Chief Executive, I have seen how deeply Macmillan’s work is intertwined with people’s experience of cancer in the UK, and that there is almost no aspect of the cancer experience that Macmillan has not sought to improve.
“As well as celebrating a year of enormous impact for those who need us most, 2023 was also the beginning of our transformation at Macmillan as we started our open strategy process to help us shape the next chapter of Macmillan’s work, ensuring we are ready to help tackle the challenges in cancer care both now and in the future.
“Currently, who you are and where you live in the UK can significantly impact your experience of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care. Macmillan consistently hears from people with cancer across the UK that cancer care is making them feel “left behind” but we know that better is possible. Macmillan is working in communities and in partnership with healthcare systems to reduce health inequalities, but we know there is so much more we can do. We will be launching our new strategy in the coming months that will map out how we will continue to work with and for people with cancer to ensure everyone with cancer is getting the best care possible.”
Macmillan Cancer Support’s Annual Report and Accounts can be found on its website in a number of formats including plain text as well as an overview report that is also available in Welsh and British Sign Language (BSL).
