Yesterday, Simon was pleased to go along to Cancer Research's drop-in session in Parliament, which not only showcased the amazing work done by Cancer Research in saving lives through tackling cancer, but also providing useful information on cancer research related issues within Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.
These statistics show the local rating as better than the national average for both 'Urgent GP Referral', as well as an outstanding rating for those receiving radiotherapy within 31 days of being referred - but there is more to do on issues like bowel cancer screening.
This Government is committed to improving cancer outcomes throughout the UK and recognising that investing in research is vital in order to increase survival rates.
Nationally, cancer survival rates are at a record high and we are on track to save an estimated 12,000 more lives a year for people diagnosed between 2011 and 2015. As of March 2017, figures show that at least 7,000 more people per year are surviving cancer than three years previously.
In light of this, it is encouraging that the National Institute for Health Research spending on cancer research has risen from £101 million in 2010/11 to £135 million in 2014/15. The Government along with Cancer Research UK, are jointly funding a network of 18 experimental cancer medicine centres aimed at driving the development and testing of new anti-cancer treatments.
The Government is working with the NHS, charities and patient groups to deliver the new cancer strategy developed by the independent Cancer Taskforce. It has committed to ensuring that by 2020, everyone referred with a suspicion of cancer will receive either a definitive diagnosis or the all-clear within four weeks. The Government is supporting this by investing up to £300 million a year by 2020 to increase diagnostic capacity, along with a national training programme for an additional 200 staff to carry out endoscopy tests by 2018.
Simon supports the Government's commitment to the £1.2 billion Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) which has helped 95,000 people to access the life-extending drugs they need. New arrangements have been introduced for the CDF to ensure that the most promising and new medicines get to patients as quickly as possible.