Beith backs "New Vision for Cancer"

9.51.22am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th May 2006

Alan Beith has added his name to a Commons Motion calling for a radical approach to tackling cancer inequalities.

Alan said,

"It is time to end the postcode lottery which leads to patients' treatment depending not on their illness and the best treatment, but on where they live."

The Early Day Motion 1903, "A New Vision for Cancer", reads as follows:

That this House supports the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer's New Vision for Cancer which can be seen at www.appg-cancer.org.uk; notes that improvements in cancer care have been realised thanks to recent increases in funding and to the dedicated work of NHS staff; nevertheless regrets that postcode prescribing remains a concern and that the UK lags behind other European countries when it comes to access to new cancer treatments; believes that a new, comprehensive, cross-departmental cancer strategy is urgently needed to bridge the gap between health and social care, and which will set enforceable national standards and entitlements to cover the entire patient journey; further believes that a New Vision for Cancer should educate professionals and the public, improve prevention diagnosis and treatment, and facilitate research into genetics, and the causes of, and treatments for cancer; and urges the Government to advance health policy to ensure this Vision becomes a reality.