22 March 2023
World Cancer Research Fund were excited to join more than 60 UK cancer charities as part of One Cancer Voice’s coalition to improve cancer care in the UK. The event culminated in a trip to No 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition signed by 80,000 people, with the aim of making services more effective for people with cancer.
The One Cancer Voice coalition was formed after the government scrapped its 10-year cancer plan for England, and the coalition decided to create a supporter-led petition to call on the government to take immediate action. It aims to put the needs of people with cancer first by ensuring the upcoming Major Conditions Strategy listens to people affected by cancer and commits to a longer-term strategy for cancer that focuses on research, diagnosis, treatment and patient care.
Although Sajid Javid, then the Health and Social Care Secretary, declared a national war on cancer in February 2022, the government this year announced a 5-year Major Conditions Strategy. This has raised concerns among cancer charities of a shift in focus from the specific requirements of cancer services and people affected by cancer.
Rebecca Taylor, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at World Cancer Research Fund, said:
This show of strength highlights how England desperately needs a focused, well-funded and ambitious cancer strategy. This is how we can tackle the cancer crisis and improve patient outcomes across England, as well as ramp up cancer prevention work, which is crucial, but often overlooked.
Cancer prevention is at the forefront of what we do at World Cancer Research Fund. We know that around 40% of all cancer cases could be prevented – that’s around 147,000 cases a year in the UK. Our prevention and survival work is helping people to live longer, happier and healthier lives.
We have spoken as #OneCancerVoice and handed in our petition to @10DowningStreet.
It’s time for @RishiSunak to address the cancer emergency and commit to fully funded, ambitious and focused action for cancer in England.
Retweet to show your support, and demand action ? pic.twitter.com/VlCTLAsSyo
— Cancer Research UK (@CR_UK) March 24, 2023
> Read the One Cancer Voice Letter to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (September 2022)
