Parliamentary Group launches ‘call to arms’ report at Britain Against Cancer conference

Group Chairman says late diagnosis is a ‘national disgrace’

Today at Britain Against Cancer, the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer (APPGC), John Baron MP, launched a major new report entitled ‘Cancer Across the Domains: Cancer Priorities for the new NHS’. The report highlights where the NHS should improve cancer care, and makes positive suggestions as to how this can be achieved. The report is the result of a widespread consultation across the cancer community into all aspects of cancer care and services following the NHS restructuring.

John said:

“It is a national disgrace that a quarter of all cancers are first diagnosed as late as A&E – late diagnosis makes for poor survival rates. We need to redouble our efforts at every level to promote earlier diagnosis – cancer’s magic key – so that our survival rates catch up with other countries.

“Our concern is that the NHS will take its eye off the ball whilst the new structures bed down. This must not happen. Our report reflects concerns across the cancer community, and is a call to arms for NHS England to raise its game on behalf of cancer patients.”

Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

“This report highlights the cancer community’s concerns about how cancer services are faring in the new NHS and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer is right to be anxious. In the last week we have seen new figures showing how much catching up we have to do if we are to be average in Europe, let alone the best.

“Giving GPs the right tools to diagnose cancer, making the right treatment more available and getting aftercare right so people stay well all need relentless focus. We cannot afford to take our eye off cancer when we are only just beginning to see improvement.”

Notes to Editors:

• This press release is under embargo until 00.01am on Tuesday 10^th December 2013. A copy of the ‘Cancer Across the Domains’ report is attached.
• The report follows two recent reports:
  • An OECD report, which highlighted that amongst advanced economies, only Poland and Ireland have worse cancer services than the UK.
  • Data from NHS England that thousands of cancer patients were not referred onto a specialist by their GP.
  • The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer is a cross-party group of MPs and Peers who work to keep cancer on the political agenda, and act as a bridge between Parliament and the cancer community. For further information, please see: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/cancer.htm.
  • Macmillan Cancer Support provide the Secretariat to the All-Party Group.
  • Each year the APPGC runs ‘Britain Against Cancer’, the UK’s biggest annual cancer conference. 2013 will be the biggest year ever, and includes speeches from both the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP and the Shadow Secretary of State, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Openshaw on 020 7840 4699. For a copy of the report, please contact John’s office.