John Baron MP reminds Prime Minister of cancer funding blockage

MP secures further meeting with Prime Minister if needed

This afternoon at Prime Minister’s Questions, John Baron MP again asked the Prime Minister about the release of the £200 million of transformation funding from NHS England, intended to help Cancer Alliances at the front-line of cancer services, which in many cases is still being withheld.

In the Chamber, John asked,

“I thank the Prime Minister for our positive meeting about the need for NHS England to release all of the £200 million cancer transformation funding to front-line services so that they can better deliver the Cancer Strategy. However, since then the system has been painfully slow in following through what was agreed at that meeting. If this continues, will she meet me to unblock this logjam to help cancer patients and their families?”

The Prime Minister responded that she is sorry to hear about the lack of progress, that she will look into this again and is happy to meet John.

Afterwards, John said,

“Since my constructive meeting with the Prime Minister on 7th March, very little progress has been made on releasing all of the transformation funding to front-line cancer services. This is money designed to help the local NHS meet the requirements of the Government’s five-year Cancer Strategy. As this concludes in 2020, time is short.”

“I am pleased the Prime Minister is taking a strong interest in this issue, and look forward to meeting her in due course if progress is still slow.”

Notes to Editors:

• John has been Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer since 2009.

• For more information, please see John’s press release of 7th March [‘John Baron MP has positive meeting with Prime Minister to discuss front-line cancer funding’].

• John has secured a Westminster Hall debate on NHS Cancer Targets, which encompasses this issue, for Tuesday, 1st May from 2.30pm.