Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP, James Morris attended Macmillan Cancer Support’s Coffee Morning in Parliament earlier this month, as he showed his support for more action on reducing waiting times for cancer patients.

In June 2023, nearly 53% of cancer patients began their treatment with the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust within 62 days of an urgent referral, below the expected standard of 85%.

Every year around 1,900 people in Dudley are diagnosed with cancer, and last year Macmillan’s Support Line helped 644 people across the borough.

James joined over 170 of his Parliamentary colleagues as part of Macmillan’s ‘What Are We Waiting For?’ campaign, which is calling on the Government to put an emergency package in place to tackle cancer waiting times.

The Government is investing £8bn by 2025, to deliver nine million checks, scans and operations, as well as expanding the number of surgical hubs across the country. This is in addition to the £2.3bn for the expansion of Community Diagnostic Centres committed at the 2021 Spending Review, which have already delivered an additional 1.7m checks and tests. James said:

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to show my support for Macmillan’s Coffee Morning, and to have the opportunity to meet patients and professionals. Macmillan do a fantastic job in supporting cancer patients and their families, and I support their campaign to bring down cancer waiting times.

“I will be continuing to do what I can, as an MP and a member of the Health & Social Care Select Committee, to make sure that patients with an urgent referral are seen as soon as possible, and that we have the best treatment possible to give them the best chance of beating cancer.

“Furthermore, I am also looking forward to the publication of the Government’s Major Conditions Strategy, where further measures to tackle cancer will be outlined.”

Gemma Peters, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, added: “Every single person who has faced a worse outcome from their cancer diagnosis because of delays will know the devastating impact that unnecessary waiting has had on their lives.

"From the burden of anxiety that their cancer is growing, and for many, the devastating news that their cancer is now incurable. This is categorically unacceptable and entirely avoidable.

“That is why it was so important to meet with MPs and peers today at our Westminster Coffee Morning and discuss our ‘What Are We Waiting For?’ campaign. We are calling on politicians across the UK to commit to providing the NHS with the funding and support needed to ensure everyone, everywhere gets the potentially life-saving cancer care they desperately need, on time.”