A Cumbrian MP has chaired a national cancer summit aimed at addressing the backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The “Catch Up With Cancer – The Way Ahead” report was produced by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy which South Lakes MP Tim Farron chairs.
The report calls on the Government to recognise the scale of the problems caused by the crisis and to deliver ring-fenced investment to improve cancer infrastructure.
It concluded that a minister should be appointed to take responsibility for ensuring cancer care recovers, in the same way a minister for vaccines was appointed to oversee the rollout.
The summit was attended by medical experts, charities, patients and more than 60 MPs.
Tim said: “There is an unbelievable level of frustration in the cancer community, because this frightening backlog is a preventable crisis.
“They have all the expertise needed to bust the cancer backlog. But that can only happen if ministers are willing to accept there is a crisis, deliver vital investment in cancer services and act quickly.”
