The APPGC hosts annual ‘Britain Against Cancer’ conference

John Baron MP: NHS must do better on earlier diagnosis – cancer’s ‘Magic Key’

On Tuesday 9th December, John Baron MP will host ‘Britain Against Cancer’ – the largest annual one-day cancer conference of its type – at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. The conference is organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer (APPGC), of which John is Chairman, and brings together around 500 policymakers, cancer professionals, Parliamentarians, charities and patients.

The conference will be one of the last opportunities for politicians to come together with the wider cancer community and discuss cancer care ahead of the election. This year, speakers will include the Secretary of State for Health, the Shadow Health Secretary, Simon Stevens [Chief Executive, NHS England] and Sean Duffy [National Clinical Director for Cancer]. In addition, the APPGC will be launching its major new report, Cancer Across the Domains: A Vision for 2020.

John said,

“It remains a national disgrace that a quarter of cancers are first diagnosed as late as A&E. We could save at least 5,000 lives a year if we matched European averages on cancer survival – it could be 10,000 if we matched the best survival rates in Europe. The NHS needs to do better on earlier diagnosis, as late diagnosis makes for poor survival rates.”

“Earlier this year the APPGC and the cancer community celebrated the publication of one-year cancer survival data, broken down by each individual Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). For the first time health professionals and the general public have data that can be used as an indication of early diagnosis performance in their local NHS. This is excellent news for patients, as it should persuade underperforming CCGs to raise their game.”

“However, the APPGC is dismayed that an additional layer of accountability has since emerged from the mist. This new ‘Delivery Dashboard’ takes precedence over the existing CCG accountability measures, yet at present does not include any cancer-specific outcome measures.”

“At ‘Britain Against Cancer’, I will be urging the Government and NHS England to reconsider this. I would also like to see the party leaders and NHS England representatives use this opportunity to present their detailed thinking to address our poor survival rates and set out the further necessary steps for the UK to match the best in Europe.”