John Baron MP highlights cancer A&E diagnosis rates

MP highlights one in five diagnoses are made in A&E

Today, during Health Questions in The House of Commons, John Baron MP pressed the Government to ensure the NHS would continue to focus on one year survival rates as a means of promoting earlier diagnosis.

John said,

“There have been good improvements in cancer care by this and previous Governments, but the Minister will be aware that over one in five cancers are first diagnosed as late as A&E. Will the Government do what it can to ensure that the NHS remains focussed on one year survival rates as a means of driving forward earlier diagnosis?”

The Minister agreed and assured the House that the one year figures were being published in order to improve survival rates.

John said afterwards,

“The UK still lags significantly behind other healthcare systems in ensuring that cancer patients survive for one year after diagnosis. Our one year survival rate is 69%, compared to 82% in Sweden. We could save tens of thousands of lives a year if we were to match international standards.”

“The only way the NHS can improve one year cancer survival figures is by promoting earlier diagnosis – hence the need for the NHS to focus and improve on these one year figures which are now broken down for each local NHS.”

Ends
Word Count: 227
Date: 09/02/16

Notes to Editors
• John is the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer.
• The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer has campaigned hard to get one year figures into the DNA of the NHS.