MP seeks assurances over one-year survival rates
Today during Prime Minister’s Questions, John Baron MP asked about the one-year cancer survival rate figures. These figures, broken down for each individual Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), measure the effectiveness of local cancer services, and in particular how good each CCG is at diagnosing cancer early. Late diagnosis makes for poor one-year survival rates, as the earlier a cancer is detected, the more successfully it can be treated.
The survival rate figures were due for release in January 2014. This was then put back to April, and the latest information is that they will be published in June. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer (APPGC) – of which John is Chairman – has campaigned for their publication as a means of promoting earlier diagnosis.
In the Chamber, John asked,
“Thousands of lives are needlessly lost each year in this country because we diagnose their cancers too late. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer and the wider cancer community have successfully lobbied to get both the local and national NHS to be measured by their one-year cancer survival rates, in order to encourage CCGs to introduce local initiatives to promote earlier diagnosis – cancer’s ‘magic key’.”
“The Government deserves credit for listening but, given twice now, at the last minute, publication of the one-year figures has been postponed. Will the Prime Minister ensure that we meet the next deadline in June?”
The Prime Minister said that the figures will be published.
Afterwards, John said,
“These figures will make a real difference. By shedding light on the local NHS’ performance at earlier diagnosis, CCGs will have to adopt measures to improve earlier diagnosis – whether through increased screening, prevention and awareness, better diagnostics at primary care, better GP referral rates or a combination of all.”
“The All-Party Group and the cancer community have campaigned hard to get the Government to accept the case for these figures. Now that we have won the argument, it is unacceptable for there to be further delays.”
Ends
Word Count: 343
Date: 26th March 2014
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