SOUTH LAKES MP WARNS OF DEATHLY IMPACT OF AUTUMN STATEMENT ON CANCER PATIENTS

On Monday in the House of Commons, local MP Tim Farron warned of the dangerous consequences of the Conservative Government's budget failing to invest in cancer services.

Speaking during a debate in Parliament on the Autumn Statement, Tim drew attention to the state of NHS services in Cumbria and in particular, cancer care. Within South Cumbria 42% of cancer patients are waiting more than two months for their first treatment and in North Cumbria it is even higher at 63%.

Tim said: "We know that for every four weeks we delay treatment, there is a 10% reduction in someone's chances of surviving. People are dying, and the consequences are not only appalling for the economy, but for those who are directly affected."

Tim, a long-time campaigner for better radiotherapy services, criticised the lack of investment in our health services and mentioned that only 5% of the NHS cancer budget is spent on radiotherapy when 50% of cancer patients will be prescribed that type of treatment.

Tim also raised that it is bad practice according to the Government's Radiotherapy Advisory Group for patients to have to travel more than 45 minutes for treatment and yet no one lives within 45 minutes of a hospital that provides radiotherapy.