John Leech MP calls for new entitlements for cancer patients

3.38.58pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 30th Mar 2006

Manchester Liberal Democrat MP John Leech today gave his backing to the "New Vision for Cancer" Parliamentary report, which proposes new minimum standards for cancer care.

· 740 people in the UK are given a diagnosis of cancer every day

· Marked improvements in cancer services in recent years, but delays remain in diagnosis and treatment of cancer

· Radical new approach to ending inequalities in cancer care

Today, an influential cross-party coalition of MPs and Peers is launching a 'New Vision for Cancer'. The report, written by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer, proposes enforceable national standards and entitlements that people with cancer can expect from health and social care services.

John Leech, Member of Parliament for Manchester Withington said:

"I am delighted to be supporting the New Vision for Cancer. I strongly believe that patient entitlements should be at the centre of their care. We need to act now to ensure we see long-term improvements in all areas of cancer care, including access to information and financial benefits, treatment, research, diagnosis and prevention."

"People living in South Manchester and across the country deserve the best possible cancer services and the New Vision for Cancer will help to deliver this. I have added my name to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer's campaign by signing an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons."

As part of its radical new approach to ending inequalities in cancer care, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer (APPG) is calling for a comprehensive, inter-departmental strategy for tackling cancer in the 21st century.

Dr Ian Gibson MP, Chairman of the APPG on Cancer, said at today's launch:

"Real improvements have been made in cancer care thanks to increases in investment over recent years and thanks to the hard work of dedicated NHS staff. However, it is time to recognise that the cancer environment is changing."

"Our New Vision for Cancer marks a radical departure from the current situation and will put patients in the driving seat when it comes to their own care. The APPG is outlining a shared Vision which, if enacted, would improve life for everyone living with cancer."

Every year 270,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK; that's roughly 400 people in Withington Constituency. Growing numbers of people are living longer with cancer and lifestyle and prevention are increasingly important factors. The APPG's new report addresses the fact that growing numbers of people are living longer with cancer and the increasing importance of lifestyle and the prevention of cancer through awareness.

The APPG on Cancer calls on the Government to support the New Vision for Cancer, and encourages anyone who supports this Vision to sign up to the campaign at: www.appg-cancer.org.uk

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Notes to Editors:

· The New Vision for Cancer can be seen in full on the APPG's campaign website: www.appg-cancer.org.uk

· The APPG on Cancer is led by a cross-party coalition of MPs and Peers. For further information, please contact the APPG officers as detailed below:

- Dr Ian Gibson MP, Labour (Chairman), 020 7219 4038 or erskined@parliament.uk

- John Baron MP, Conservative (Vice-Chair), 020 7219 8138 or thomasgd@parliament.uk

- Sandra Gidley MP, Liberal Democrat (Vice-Chair), 020 7219 5986 or bungayn@parliament.uk

- Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, Labour (Vice-Chair), 020 7219 8727 or morgand@parliament.uk

- Dr Richard Taylor MP, Independent (Vice-Chair), 020 7219 4598 or pricemah@parliament.uk

· The Secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer is provided by CancerBACUP, who can be reached via Emily Bird on 020 7920 7248 or ebird@cancerbacup.org

· The APPG is also supported by a Stakeholders' Group comprising of representatives from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Cancer Black Care, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Relief, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Men's Health Forum, and the National Cancer Research Institute.

· The All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer was founded in 1998 to keep cancer at the top of the political agenda, and to ensure that policy making remains patient-centred. The APPG runs the annual Britain Against Cancer conference. Many of the policy suggestions in this document have been developed from ideas at Britain Against Cancer. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer offers its sincere thanks to all those who participated in the discussions.

· The All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer would like to thank the supporters of the 2005 conference; AstraZeneca, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Ortho Biotech, Pfizer, Roche and sanofi-aventis. All have a medical expertise and commercial interest in cancer, but have had no involvement in the content of this document.