Cancer Research UK holds MPs' expert briefing on radiotherapy: 25th January 2011

Cancer Research UK held a photocall and expert briefing in the House of Commons on radiotherapy on 25th January. This was an important part of our activity to raise the profile of radiotherapy in Parliament.

MPs generally hear far more about cancer drugs than other forms of treatment. We want to see radiotherapy - as a cornerstone of cancer treatment - getting a higher profile in Parliament in order to secure more vocal support for providing a world class radiotherapy service in the UK.

We hope that MPs will engage with their local radiotherapy services to find out how to support local radiotherapy centres with the individual challenges they face around access. Given that we know awareness of the importance of radiotherapy is very low among the general public, we asked MPs to highlight their support in their local media. One MP even tweeted about it afterwards!

Gavin Barwell MP, who hosted the event, spoke about why MPs need to know about radiotherapy. MPs heard from Professor Michele Saunders, Emeritus Professor of Oncology, University College London (the researcher’s view), Russell Hart, Radiotherapy Services Manager, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (the practitioner’s view) and Claire Daniels (the patient’s view).

Sarah Burnett-Moore, consultant radiologist and Cancer Campaigns Ambassador also lent her expertise to the session.

This briefing was very timely. That same week the National Radiotherapy Awareness Initiative launched the Year of Radiotherapy. The Initiative is a collaboration between the Department of Health and expert and professional groups across the UK including Cancer Research UK.

For more information please contact Laura McCann, Public Affairs Officer on 0203 469 8499 or at laura.mccann@cancer.org.uk.

Photography by Jody Kingzett: 
Top: John Baron (Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer), Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay; Middle: Duncan Hames, Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham; Bottom: Sian James, Labour MP for Swansea East.