John Baron MP presses on Government to encourage earlier diagnosis at major cancer conference

MP chairs Britain Against Cancer Conference – Secretary of State for Health guest speaker

Yesterday the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer (APPGC) held its annual ‘Britain Against Cancer’ (BAC) conference in Westminster. BAC is a major event in the cancer calendar, bringing together senior policymakers, cancer professionals and charities. In all, around 500 delegates attended – 100 more than last year. John Baron MP, as Chairman of the APPGC, spoke at the opening of the conference and chaired the event, including several breakout sessions. This year’s conference was particularly focused on the improvement of patient outcomes in 2013.

The keynote address was given by the new Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP. He stated his commitment to fighting cancer and announced new pilot schemes to increase screening for bowel cancer.

During the conference, John said,

“Throughout this period of NHS reform, the All-Party Group has believed the most significant health reform is the focus on patient outcomes as a means to encourage earlier diagnosis. In 2011 we debated structures. 2012 was the year of transition. 2013 must be the year of action.”

“Earlier diagnosis is the ‘magic key’ of cancer. The All-Party Group is focusing on ensuring our cancer survival rates, which currently lag behind our European neighbours, catch up with the best in the world. Late diagnosis makes for poor survival rates – and this is why we need to put in lights the one- and five-year survival rates as a means to encourage earlier diagnosis.”

“It is therefore vital that the one- and five-year survival indicators are included in the Outcomes Frameworks, to maximise their impact on our survival rates. They are already in the NHS Outcomes Framework, but need also to be included in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework, which sets priorities for local Clinical Commissioning Groups.”

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Date: 12^th December 2012