Where has the 10 year cancer plan gone?
Today, the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust has joined up with more than 60 charities to call upon the government to uphold the promises previously laid out within the 10-Year Cancer Plan and commit to dramatically improve cancer care across England.
We’ve joined #OneCancerVoice on behalf of millions of people affected by cancer collectively supporting millions of people living with cancer. We want the Prime Minister to commit to taking action to dramatically improve the experience and outcomes of both adults and children with cancer.
The Major Conditions Strategy
On World Cancer Day last year, the government declared ‘war on cancer’ by committing to publish a 10-year cancer plan for England. The aim of this was to document a long-term approach for cancer services nationally including the care of children with cancer.
However, last month, the government announced that it will be launching a 5-year ‘Major Conditions Strategy’ instead. This means they will no longer be publishing a 10-Year Cancer Plan in which so much work has already been carried out.
We are concerned that this reflects a dilution of the ambition and shifts focus away from some of the specific asks, issues and opportunities for cancer services and for adults and children affected by cancer.
One Cancer Voice
That’s why we have joined up with other charities to call upon the government to uphold the promises previously laid out within the 10-Year Cancer Plan and commit to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for adults and children affected by cancer now and in the future. The petition, hosted by Cancer Research UK, is being supported and shared by over 60 cancer charities, uniting together as One Cancer Voice.
What does the government need to do?
We have come together, to call on the UK government to put the needs of people with cancer first by:
- Ensuring the upcoming Major Conditions Strategy is ambitious, fully funded, and listens to the voices and evidence of the cancer community.
- Committing to a longer-term strategy for cancer which focuses on:
- Research into cancers, both adult and childhood cancers
- Early diagnosis – this includes the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer
- Improved treatments
- Improved patient experience
What can we do now?
We need to act now to improve cancer care in England. We currently do not know how the government with consult the cancer sector and patients on this new strategy but in the meantime, we are working with the one Cancer Voice Coalition to put pressure on the government is effective as it can be for those affected by cancer.
Therefore, we are asking you to sign the open petition to the Prime Minister to help ensure that this strategy does not dilute the ambition needed to improve cancer care in England.
By working together, we can achieve so much more for both adults and children with cancer.
