MP calls on Government to reverse decision to scrap cancer plan

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has called for a Parliamentary debate on the Government's decision to axe their 10 year strategy to tackle the cancer backlog.

In a recent editorial in the British Medical Journal, Professor of Cancer and Global Health at King's College London, Richard Sullivan, and Dr Ajay Aggarwal, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Guy's St Thomas' NHS Trust, have said the Government's announcement is a "catastrophic decision that will cost lives".

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell said she was concerned that the move would "dilute" efforts to tackle the disease.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Tim said: "In Cumbria in the last year, 44% of all people diagnosed with cancer waited more than 62 days to get their first treatment. That is 464 individuals waiting more than two months after a diagnosis to get their first treatment, when we know that every four weeks' delay in treatment reduces people's chance of surviving by 10%.

"May we have a debate on the Government's current lack of a cancer strategy to tackle that crisis, and will the Leader of the House consider making radiotherapy a key part of that discussion, bearing in mind that 53% of people with cancer should have radiotherapy by international standards but only 27% of British patients do?

"Will she also consider the impact on rural communities such as mine, in which travelling times to undergo radiotherapy can be three or four-hour round trips every day for weeks on end, and the bid that we are making for a satellite radiotherapy unit at the Westmorland General Hospital?"

In response, the Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt said: "I shall certainly make sure that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has heard his concerns.

As I said before, we are acutely aware of the need to ensure that while we work through the backlog, new cases are dealt with swiftly. It does make a massive difference to outcomes, which is why we have stood up the new diagnostic centres and are bolstering the NHS in the way that we are.

"As well as the provision of those services, how people are able to access them is critical, and I know that hospital transport and accessibility of those services is very important. I wish him well in his bid."