Raising awareness of the NHS staffing crisis with Macmillan

We analysed the government’s Cancer Patient Experience Survey to find specific examples of the information and support gaps left by the critical shortage of specialist NHS cancer staff. We found that: around 76,000 people a year did not have the possible side-effects of treatment fully explained before starting treatment; around 25,000 weren’t allocated a Clinical Nurse Specialist who would support them through treatment; and around 61,000 didn’t receive, but would have liked information about financial support available.

We then worked with singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose step-father and grandparents have been affected by cancer, and celebrity photographer Nicky Johnston, on a portrait series basing striking imagery – featuring people with cancer – on the statistics. The series features pairs of images representing the support gaps left by the NHS staffing crisis and where Macmillan helps plug those gaps. In one image, Macmillan is there to support the individual; in the other, they are out of the picture, as without funding, Macmillan cannot continue to be there to support people with cancer.