Today we have been in Parliament with the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign – driving home the importance of radiotherapy access for UK cancer patients.
Together with cancer patients, frontline NHS workforce, and industry representatives, we met with MPs and Peers looking for solutions to the country’s cancer crisis.
Ahead of the Autumn Budget next month and the National Cancer Plan expected early next year, our campaign and supporters told policymakers how they can save lives by backing modern radiotherapy.
As part of our event, Parliamentarians signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling on his Government to deliver World-class radiotherapy by upgrading outdated machines and addressing workforce shortages.
Following the event, our Chair, Professor Pat Price, said:
“Decades of underinvestment have left our radiotherapy infrastructure and workforce worse for wear, and it’s essential that the upcoming National Cancer Plan addresses this historic oversight.
“Modern radiotherapy – paired with a bolstered workforce to deliver it – will help drive down wait lists and save lives. Those are the messages our dedicated patients, workforce, volunteers and industry allies brought into Parliament today, and we must hope that’s the messages policymakers left with.”
The need for a National Radiotherapy Advisory Group
With a new National Cancer Plan on the way, the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign is asking all four nations to establish National Radiotherapy Advisory Groups.
This is a proven way to save lives. The last NRAG in England was hugely successful; improving access, rolling out technology, and cutting waits. As a result, we had 2,500 more patients surviving each year.
We are urging decision makers to return to what works and make sure radiotherapy has independent, high-level representation, led by clinical experts. This is the proven way to drive cancer policy in the right direction.
VIDEOS: Challenging poor access to radiotherapy
