England’s first Men’s Health Strategy: what it means for Prostate Cancer

The UK Government has published England’s first ever Men’s Health Strategy – a 10-year plan to improve the health and wellbeing of men and boys. It looks at everything from physical and mental health to the widening inequalities many men face. 

 PCR fed into the development of this strategy earlier this year. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s in the strategy and what it means for prostate cancer. 

• A 10-year national plan for England. 

• Focused on improving men’s physical and mental health. 

• Aims to close inequalities affecting certain groups – including Black men and men in more deprived areas, who face worse outcomes from conditions like prostate cancer. 

• Built around six key areas (“levers”) such as better access to healthcare, tackling social norms, as well as wider cross-cutting action on improving data and research. 

• A one-year progress report will be published to assess implementation and look at future directions. 

There are a small number of specific commitments on prostate cancer: 

1. Better monitoring after diagnosis

Men who are already living with prostate cancer will benefit from: 

• Remote monitoring 

• Home-based PSA testing (so men can complete tests at home rather than at hospital) 

• Digital or virtual pathways for men at higher risk  

These changes are designed to make care more flexible, reduce hospital visits, and improve quality of life for men who are being monitored over time. 

2. Screening mentioned – but no commitment yet

The strategy notes that the UK National Screening Committee will launch a public consultation on prostate cancer screening this year. 

This is not a recommendation or a commitment to screening. 

i. Better data and research 

The Government plans to: 

• Create a single, secure gateway to health data to support discovery of new treatments. 

• Invest in new research to understand how different groups of men view their own health, including Black men and men from deprived communities. 

• Establish a Men’s Health Academic Network to bring together researchers, clinicians and charities to guide future evidence and support delivery of the strategy. 

ii. Stronger involvement of charities and communities 

The strategy highlights the important role of: 

• Charities 

• Local government 

• Employers 

• Research funders 

• Community groups 

This includes running targeted awareness campaigns for conditions like cancer and ensuring men are better represented in national cancer campaigns. 

iii. Accountability and next steps 

• A new Men’s Health Stakeholder Group will help oversee the strategy. 

• A one-year-on report will track progress and identify where more action is needed. 

David James, Director of Patient Projects and Influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, has the following to say:

“It is very encouraging to see the Government giving prostate cancer real attention in the first ever Men’s Health Strategy. The improvements announced today will make a meaningful difference for the thousands of men already living with the disease. Better and more timely access to tests and clinicians across the country, fewer unnecessary hospital visits, and more consistent monitoring will significantly improve men’s quality of life and outcomes. As these digital pathways grow, we must also ensure that men with limited access to technology are supported through this transition. 

On early diagnosis, it is positive to see technology playing a growing role, from AI-assisted MRI to virtual pathways, but without a national screening programme these advances alone will not solve the challenge of catching prostate cancer too late. The strategy is a welcome step, but further action will be needed to ensure more men are diagnosed early, when survival rates are at their highest.”