‘Defuse time bomb’ of cancer cases, Boris told
BORIS Johnson is being urged to get a grip on cancer with a “radical new plan” to tackle the huge backlog in treatment.
Fifty MPS and peers have written to the Prime Minister to say the Government’s “war on cancer” needs to translate into “world-class cancer care for all the country”.
It comes as former health minister Steve Brine will this week call for improved screening for breast cancer through legislation to ensure early diagnosis and potentially life-saving interventions.
Research charity Breast Cancer Now is warning almost 9,000 women in England could be living with the disease undetected due to the pandemic.
The letter to Mr Johnson, which will be delivered to No 10 on Tuesday and is signed by cross-party politicians, calls on him to address the backlog and lengthy waiting times.
It follows government figures which show waiting times for cancer care in England are the longest on record.
Tim Farron, chair of the All-party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy and one of the letter’s signatories, said: “If things continue as they are, we are looking at a second health disaster. The
Government say they will deliver a new cancer plan, but words alone are not enough. Cancer services should be deployed at the heart of efforts to tackle the backlog.”
And oncologist Professor Pat Price, co-founder of the #Catchupwithcancer campaign and chair of Radiotherapy UK, said: “It is a nightmare for patients and staff alike.
“We need the Government to outline how investment will boost frontline cancer services, particularly hi-tech solutions like radiotherapy which are so often overlooked.
“We urgently need the Prime Minister to intervene and defuse this cancer backlog time bomb before it is too late.”
Tory Mr Brine says he is tabling legislation because during the pandemic people were “literally frightened away from the NHS”.
The Winchester MP wants a more targeted approach to inviting people in higher-risk categories to come forward for screening.
He fears there could be a “ticking time bomb of undiagnosed breast cancer in women and men”.
Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “That 930,000 fewer women in England were screened for breast cancer between April 2020-March 2021, compared to the previous year is an alarming reminder of the devastating and continued impacts of the pandemic on breast cancer care and diagnosis.”
But a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:“we know the pandemic has had a serious impact on people living with cancer, and we’re committed to investing in the NHS to tackle the treatment backlog.
“We have allocated £22million to replace mobile breast screening units and £50million to increase the number of screenings across the country.
“We will set out a 10-year Cancer Plan later this year with a renewed focus on early diagnosis.”