John Baron MP thanks Minister for supporting cancer amendments

MP: Amendments will help cancer patients and their families

Yesterday the House of Commons considered Lords Amendments to the Health and Care Bill. Last November, 80 cross-party MPs supported John Baron MP’s amendment to improve cancer survival rates by prioritising cancer outcomes in the frameworks which govern the NHS. This will help save lives by improving performance at diagnosing cancers earlier, which makes for better survival rates.

In the Chamber, John said,

“I thank the Minister, his officials and his special advisers for accepting the amendment in this place on prioritising cancer outcomes as a means of encouraging earlier diagnosis. That really will drive survival rates up. I also thank the nearly 100 colleagues here and in the other place who helped and supported the campaign. In that spirit, I assure the Minister that we will do what we can to help the Government in ensuring that the legislation prioritising cancer outcomes will have its desired effect at the frontline.”

Responding the Minister, Ed Argar MP, said,

“I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Again, I think that I speak for both sides of the House on a cross-party basis in saying that we were pleased to be able to accept his amendment, on which he campaigned hard, in this place. I think that will lead to further improvements in cancer treatment and cancer care outcomes for many people in our country.”

John said afterwards,

“Improving cancer survival rates has been an important issue for me throughout my time in Parliament, and after a number of false dawns it is terrific news that the Government has finally recognised the importance of prioritising outcomes, such as one-year survival rates, into legislation. This will make a real difference to cancer patients and their families, and I am grateful to all in Government and on the back benches, in both Houses, who have made this initiative possible.”

Notes to Editors:

• John wrote an article describing this change in more detail last November, online at: https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/11/john-baron-the-change-that-the-nhs-needs-to-help-catch-cancer-early-and-save-lives.html.