TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF CANCERBACKUP CHARITY

Early day motion 2580, tabled 17 July 2006 by Ian Gibson (Labour). Signed by 102 members.

That this House congratulates Cancerbackup on celebrating its 21st birthday; notes that 5,000 people a week are diagnosed with cancer and that these figures are set to increase as the population ages; notes that 21 years ago Vicky Clement-Jones, then a young doctor in the midst of her own cancer journey, realised that people with cancer were in desperate need of information, understanding and support and that whilst much has been done there is still a long way to go; is concerned that recent cancer patient surveys have found that four in 10 cancer patients still do not receive any written information at all; calls on the Government to work to ensure that people with cancer have the information and support they need to regain a sense of control over their lives; and urges the swift implementation of both the NHS Information Strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health and the commitment to information prescriptions in the recent Our Health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper.

Signatures by party: Labour 57, Liberal Democrat 22, Conservative 16, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.