Cancer care is undergoing a profound shift. At the centre of this transformation is telehealth—a digital health revolution that’s quietly reshaping how, where, and when patients receive care. Once considered an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care is now a permanent fixture in the oncology landscape. From remote symptom monitoring to virtual consultations, telehealth is driving more personalised, equitable, and efficient care for cancer patients across the UK and beyond.
The Rise of Telehealth in Oncology
The pandemic acted as a catalyst, forcing healthcare systems to adopt remote healthcare solutions virtually overnight. According to NHS Digital, virtual consultations accounted for 48% of outpatient activity in some specialities during the height of the pandemic (NHS Digital, 2021). Oncology services faced the challenge of delivering high-risk treatment to immunocompromised patients. They quickly embraced digital models to maintain continuity of care.
In 2024, this trend is not only continuing—it’s accelerating. A recent Newsweek article (2024) described telehealth as “revolutionising cancer care”. It highlights stories of patients who now have faster access to multidisciplinary teams. Patients experience fewer delays in diagnosis and less travel-related stress. As digital maturity increases across healthcare systems, cancer pathways are being redesigned. These pathways include virtual touchpoints that support in-person care, rather than replace it.
A Patient-Centred Approach to Virtual Cancer Care
At its core, telehealth in oncology is about access and agency. Many cancer patients face mobility challenges, psychological stress, and financial burdens related to frequent hospital visits. Telehealth provides a way to deliver compassionate care that fits into their lives—rather than disrupting them.
In a qualitative study published in PLOS ONE, patients reported feeling more empowered when care was delivered remotely, noting reduced fatigue, improved convenience, and a sense of safety during times of immunosuppression (Parsons et al., 2024). These findings resonate with ongoing research I’ve conducted within community healthcare settings. Clinicians consistently highlight the value of virtual care in maintaining continuity. It also enhances patient engagement, particularly for follow-up appointments and care planning.
Furthermore, studies like the one published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs confirm that telehealth supports shared decision-making. Clinicians can involve family members more easily in virtual consultations, improving communication, emotional support, and adherence to care plans (Wagner et al., 2024).
Clinical Benefits and Evidence-Based Outcomes
While some scepticism around virtual care remains, the evidence base for telehealth in oncology is growing rapidly. A comprehensive review by Elhadi et al. (2024) in NPJ Digital Medicine found that remote monitoring for chemotherapy side effects and symptom tracking led to faster interventions, improved survival outcomes, and reduced emergency hospitalisations.
Another large-scale study published on PubMed (Yu et al., 2024) involving over 5,000 cancer patients revealed that telehealth interventions resulted in a 23% reduction in unplanned hospital admissions. The researchers concluded that digital health tools enabled earlier identification of complications, allowing timely clinical responses.
In the UK, the Peninsula Cancer Alliance reported similar success. Their evaluation of virtual solutions for managing cancer care showed increased patient satisfaction, enhanced MDT coordination, and reduced clinic no-show rates (Peninsula Cancer Alliance, 2020). Virtual care was particularly effective in rural areas, where patients often face long travel times to tertiary centres.
Bridging Gaps in Access and Equity
A major advantage of telehealth is its ability to bridge geographic and social inequalities in access to cancer care. For patients living in remote, underserved, or socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, digital health offers a lifeline.
However, this benefit isn’t automatic. Without equitable access to technology, digital exclusion remains a risk. According to the Office for National Statistics, around 6% of UK households still lack internet access (ONS, 2023). For cancer patients who are older, less digitally literate, or non-native English speakers, these barriers can be significant.
To address this, some healthcare providers are investing in digital inclusion programmes—offering device loans, Wi-Fi hotspots, and digital literacy support. Importantly, clinicians are adapting their communication styles to ensure that virtual consultations are not only technologically accessible but emotionally resonant.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite its promise, telehealth is not a panacea. Certain elements of cancer care—such as physical exams, biopsies, and infusions—require face-to-face delivery. Concerns about missed diagnoses, communication breakdowns, and emotional disconnect have been raised.
A recent paper (Lopez, 2024) cautions that poor video quality, lack of body language cues, and limited tech training among staff can lead to suboptimal care experiences. Similarly, my own research highlights clinicians’ worries about patient safety, especially when dealing with end-of-life discussions or rapid changes in condition that are harder to assess remotely.
Furthermore, certain aspects of care, such as physical examinations and the delivery of sensitive news, may be less effective or appropriate in a virtual setting. A report by Maggie’s Cancer Charity emphasised concerns regarding the impersonal nature of remote consultations, particularly when conveying serious diagnoses, underscoring the need for careful consideration of when and how telehealth is utilised (The Times, 2025).
This is why many cancer services are now moving towards hybrid models, blending in-person care with digital check-ins. These models offer flexibility without compromising clinical quality. As one oncology nurse I interviewed put it, “Virtual care is like a safety net. It’s not about replacing the human touch, but extending it.”
Future Trends in Digital Cancer Care
The next frontier for telehealth in oncology lies in integration and personalisation. Artificial intelligence (AI), remote monitoring wearables, and electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) are already being piloted in UK cancer centres.
Startups and NHS digital programmes are deploying AI tools to triage symptoms, predict treatment responses, and streamline care coordination. One promising initiative, led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, is using machine learning to flag early signs of chemotherapy toxicity, allowing proactive intervention.
Meanwhile, remote monitoring platforms like Living With, My Clinical Outcomes, and Patient Knows Best are enabling real-time data collection on pain, fatigue, appetite, and mood—feeding directly into clinical dashboards. This allows care teams to adjust treatment plans on the fly, improving responsiveness and outcomes.
A Cultural and Technological Shift
Perhaps the most significant change is not technological but cultural. Clinicians are learning new skills in digital empathy. Patients are becoming active participants in their care journeys. And organisations are rethinking how they deliver value—not just in terms of clinical outcomes, but also in the lived experiences of those they serve.
Virtual care is no longer just an option; it’s becoming an expectation.
As Professor Charlotte Coles from Cambridge University Hospitals said in a recent panel on digital health:
“Telehealth has enabled us to maintain the human connection in the most trying of times. Now, we have an opportunity to build a more connected, compassionate, and data-driven future for cancer care.”
Telehealth is not a temporary fix. It is a permanent, evolving pillar of modern cancer care. By blending the best of clinical tradition with digital innovation, cancer patients can be offered a future that is more convenient, equitable, and responsive. But success requires investment in technology, training, and inclusive design.
If we get it right, telehealth won’t just transform how we treat cancer—it will transform how we care.
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