Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget, leading oncologist and co-founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, Professor Pat Price said:
“The Budget’s investment in the NHS is to be welcomed but ducks the crucial question of how the Government is going to fund cancer services to reduce dangerous delays to cancer treatment. Cancer patients and clinicians are crying out for help in the face of mounting waiting lists, out-of-date radiotherapy treatment machines, and a cancer workforce in crisis.
“With the promised cancer plan still to be published, this Budget was a major opportunity to reassure patients and NHS staff that help is coming.
“Every month shows more delays to cancer treatment, rising demands as we diagnose more cancer patients through screening, and a widening gap between the number of people who need cancer treatment and the ability of the NHS cancer service to deliver it. A properly funded cancer plan is urgently needed!”