Earlier this week, Greg Smith MP joined Radiotherapy UK and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign in Parliament ahead of World Cancer Day, to learn about the latest cancer waiting time data for the South East region and the benefits that radiotherapy can offer.
Commenting, Greg said, "At the event, a delegation of cancer professionals and campaigners, alongside frontline radiotherapy workforce and patients, unveiled new analysis of recent cancer waiting times across the UK, to show the extent of the cancer crisis.
"I was also delighted to meet Bryan Robson OBE, former Man Utd and England Captain, who said he owed his live to radiotherapy as part of his cancer treatment.
"In Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board area, 42.7% of cancer patients are currently waiting longer than 62 days for treatment after urgent GP referral.
"In England, the Government has set a target of no more than 15% of cancer patients waiting longer than the recommended 62-day wait between the date the hospital receives an urgent referral for suspected cancer and the start of the treatment. Latest cancer waiting time figures, released on 12 January 2023 by NHS England and analysed by the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, show that in the latest month, 39% of cancer patients across England were waiting beyond the 62-day target.
"International research shows that for every four weeks of delay, chances of survival for cancer patients falls by an average of 10%. That is why I am supporting Radiotherapy UK and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign in their calls to Government to boost cancer treatment services, such as radiotherapy, to help tackle the growing cancer backlog"
To find out more about this important campaign, please visit: https://radiotherapy.org.uk/get-involved/catchupwithcancer/#:~:text=We%20launched%20the%20award%20winning,of%20the%20Covid%2D19%20response
