The 4th National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Day takes place across the UK on Friday 14 March. As in previous years, this day celebrates the CNS role in cancer care, raises their profile and acknowledges their vital contribution to cancer care across the four nations.
The CNS role in cancer care developed rapidly following the publication of The NHS Cancer Plan in 2000 (Department of Health, 2000). These specialist nursing roles were needed to support the development of tumour-specific pathways.
The responsibilities of the modern CNS are very diverse, encompassing clinical and caseload management, audit, research, education and service development (Kerr et al, 2021). This diversity has sometimes led to an under-appreciation of the importance of the CNS in cancer care, and some ambiguity around their function. Despite this, however, the CNS role can be considered as one of the major successes of UK cancer care and has been increasingly linked with positive patient outcomes and experience. In 2024, Alessy et al found that being directed to a cancer CNS is associated with better care experiences and even improved survival.
Challenges
Heading into 2025, the cancer CNS role is facing some considerable challenges. Macmillan Cancer Support has reported that almost 3.5 million people are living with cancer in the UK (Seymour, 2025) The CNS workforce will need to increase by 100% by 2030 to continue delivering personalised and holistic care and meet patient demand. Back in 2017, there were already concerns, with the Macmillan census (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2017) showing variable numbers of CNS posts across the UK and across specialty. The same census highlighted an ageing workforce with around 40% of CNSs due to retire by 2027. Although there is a lack of up-to-date information around the current workforce, additional pressures brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and many years of under-investment in cancer care across the UK means that the situation has become more urgent to address since 2017. As the number of people being treated for cancer, and those living with a cancer diagnosis, continue to rise, our systems are feeling the strain and the need for skilled and compassionate CNSs has never been more acute.
The Cancer Workforce Plan (NHS England, 2017) aimed to increase the number of CNSs in England so that every patient had access to one by 2021. There is little evidence of this being achieved.
Join in
National CNS day is an opportunity to both celebrate the role of the modern CNS and also to promote the cancer CNS as a career choice. To show your support of the cancer CNS on 14 March, join in the social media campaign and make sure you use the hashtag #NationalCancerCNSDay.
The UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) is leading the planning of this year's #NationalCancerCNSDay. This year is the 20th anniversary of UKONS and to celebrate cancer nurses, including CNSs, this year's conference will include awards to recognise the amazing work of our members. See the UKONS website for entry details (https://www.ukons.org).