Policy work in Scotland
We work in coalition with other charities to support efforts to improve cancer outcomes in Scotland. Our team regularly meets with the Scottish Cancer Coalition to collaborate and improve the lives of men in Scotland.
Our Priorities
Earlier diagnosis
Targeted testing for high-risk men
Faster, consistent clinical pathways
Improving evidence, data and early detection approaches
Tackling health inequalities in diagnosis and outcomes
Current Campaigns in Scotland
We developed a manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, setting out key priorities for the next Scottish Government.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium is the national body in Scotland that assesses whether a treatment is efficacious and cost-effective for use within NHS Scotland. As a charity, we work with the SMC on many of its treatment appraisals, helping to ensure the patient voice is heard.
Understanding patient, family, and carer experiences is central to SMC’s decision-making on new treatments. We gather these insights through patient group submissions and by encouraging patients to attend SMC PACE (patient and clinician engagement) meetings. Patients can explain the advantages and disadvantages of medicines that may not be evident in published literature or clinical trial quality-of-life measures.
Previous examples of treatment appraisals we have contributed to include Relugolix (a hormone therapy) and olaparib (a PARP inhibitor).
This report summarises the qualitative research conducted with men living in Scotland. The aim of this work was to understand why they may delay engaging with prostate health information, risk checking and testing, and how a Scotland-focused campaign could support earlier action.
10 Main findings from the research
Knowledge was low and fragmented.
Engagement in prostate health was generally reactive rather than preventative.
Men without a diagnosis often saw no reason to act while they felt well.
Men with prostate cancer often recognised delay in hindsight.
Misunderstanding of testing was significant.
Black men’s responses showed that risk messaging needs context and care.
Social norms discouraged open discussion.
GP access created friction.
Work patterns intensified barriers.
Prompts mattered. Partners, family members, healthcare professionals, public figures, workplaces and facilitated settings could all help move men from passive awareness to action.
Overall, men were not resistant to prostate health information, but they often lacked basic health information, awareness of their risk level and testing options, and needed social permission to act e.g. reassurance from their GP, family members or peers. Awareness alone is unlikely to be enough; campaigns need to make the next step simple, credible and worth doing.
We are actively involved in the Scottish Cancer Coalition, contributing to both coalition-wide meetings and the Early Diagnosis and Screening Subgroup, helping to shape improvements in prostate cancer policy and early diagnosis in Scotland.
The Scottish Cancer Coalition was created in 2003 as a partnership of voluntary organisations dedicated to improving cancer services and outcomes for patients in Scotland, and promoting research and prevention efforts.
We fed into the Scottish Cancer Network - Clinical Management Pathways across NHS Scotland.
