MP to help launch All Party Parliamentary Group on radiotherapy next week

On Tuesday 22nd May local MP Tim Farron will help launch a cross party group on radiotherapy in Parliament.

The group, which will include MPs from all parties, will look at how to persuade the Government to commit to more investment for the service.

Currently 60% of people with cancer will need radiotherapy treatment and yet radiotherapy only makes up 5% of the Government’s cancer budget.

The APPG will also look improving access to radiotherapy.

Here in the South Lakes, cancer patients have to make a 2-3 hour round trip for five days a week, for weeks on end to reach their nearest treatment centre.

Earlier this month Tim Farron chaired a round table meeting of clinicians, scientists and engineers in Westminster to look at how access to radiotherapy treatment can be improved.

Tim said: “It’s a sad fact that cancer affects us all.

“According to Cancer Research UK, one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during our lifetime.

“So, it’s absolutely essential that everyone has decent access to life-saving treatment such as radiotherapy.

“This is an incredibly important treatment but frankly it’s not receiving the funding it needs from central Government to be able to treat everyone who desperately needs it.

“I look forward to working with MPs from all parties to making the case for much greater resources so that radiotherapy is easy to access for people across the country.”