Bridging the Gap: How Perci Health and Macmillan Cancer Support Are Transforming Workplace Cancer Care
By Kelly McCabe, CEO and co-founder Perci Health
In today’s workforce, cancer is no longer a rare or isolated challenge. Macmillan Cancer Support recently reported that nearly 3.5 million people are living with cancer in the UK, the highest figure to date, and one that continues to grow. This has significant implications for employers, who must now support increasing numbers of employees navigating the challenges of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and life beyond cancer.
HR and benefits leaders are under growing pressure to provide appropriate, scalable support. However, traditional approaches to workplace wellbeing often fall short in addressing the long-term, multifaceted impact of cancer.
Recognising this urgent need, Macmillan Cancer Support and Perci Health have formed a pioneering strategic partnership. This collaboration represents a long-term commitment to transform the way cancer care is delivered in the workplace. It combines Macmillan’s century-long dedication to compassionate support with Perci Health’s innovative virtual care model, aiming to reimagine how employers can support staff affected by cancer.
As Kelly McCabe, CEO and co-founder of Perci Health, explains:
“Our collaboration with Macmillan Cancer Support marks an exciting milestone in cancer care and innovation. It’s an opportunity to scale our model and address the critical gaps that exist in support. By working together, we can empower more individuals to live well with cancer.”
Cancer at Work Is a Growing Concern
The impact of cancer extends well beyond clinical treatment. According to Perci Health, 83% of the employees they supported last year cited returning to work as their biggest practical concern following a diagnosis. For many, the physical, emotional and financial toll can be long-lasting, side effects, recurrence anxiety, and coexisting conditions are common.
Macmillan research reinforces this: 83% of people with cancer experience financial hardship, and 29% have multiple concerns across physical, emotional, practical and financial domains. With over 1,000 people diagnosed each day in the UK, this is a challenge of scale that employers can no longer afford to ignore.
A Strategic Alliance for Scalable, Personalised Support
Macmillan’s new strategy is a direct response to the changing needs of people living with cancer. Its updated focus includes four key objectives:
- Reach everyone, especially those who need it most
- Make cancer care fair for everyone
- Offer more personal support
- Deliver better care everywhere
Perci Health is a direct enabler of these goals, particularly the ambition to offer more personal support. Macmillan recognises that 70% of people with cancer are also living with one or more other potentially serious long-term health conditions. In its report ‘The burden of cancer and other long-term health conditions’, Macmillan urges the health and social care system to urgently reflect these individual and complex needs. That’s where Perci Health comes in.
“Perci Health’s holistic, multidisciplinary approach is already making a significant difference to people living with cancer,” says Claire Taylor, MBE, Chief Nursing Officer at Macmillan. “Our two organisation’s values are aligned, and we share the ambitions to help more people get the personalised care they need.”
What This Means for Employers
For employers, this partnership offers a concrete, scalable solution to an increasingly complex issue. Perci Health’s services can be integrated into existing wellbeing programmes and employee benefits packages, providing:
- Rapid access to virtual consultations
- Return-to-work support
- Mental health and resilience resources
- Legal and workplace adjustment advice
This not only supports compliance with the Equality Act 2010 but also sends a powerful message: that the employer genuinely cares. In today’s competitive landscape, that can directly translate into improved retention, engagement, and productivity.
A New Standard for Workplace Wellbeing
This partnership is more than a response to an immediate need, it’s a blueprint for the future. Cancer is increasingly being treated as a long-term, chronic condition, and healthcare systems are under immense pressure. By embracing digital innovation and holistic, expert care, Perci Health and Macmillan are working to reduce the gap between what people need and what they currently receive.
Supporting employees through cancer is no longer optional. It’s a moral responsibility and a strategic advantage.
To learn more about integrating Perci Health and Macmillan’s services into your workplace, contact us: hello@percihealth.com and visit Macmillan at Work.