Last Saturday was World Cancer Day. Cancer services are at breaking point with record waiting times for treatment. No region is currently meeting the Government’s target of 85% of patients being seen within 62 days. Modern technology will allow earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.

Radiotherapy is an example of an effective high tech solution and football legend Bryan Robson came to Parliament last week to highlight the case for it. Bryan had been diagnosed with throat cancer and received swift and effective treatment in Thailand. The campaign he backs wants to see improvements in this country arguing that technological advances are being hindered by rules around funding and how many treatments a patient requires.

There’s a similar worry about tackling cervical cancer which also brought a campaign to Parliament. 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the UK and 850 women lose their lives each year. Yet cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and cervical screening.

We have the means to eliminate cervical cancer but just 1 in 5 people believe enough is being done. The Government needs to be more active on this and on cancer and healthcare in general.

The pandemic had an effect and hospitals are struggling with winter pressures and a flu virus. But what we are seeing across the NHS is more than a decade of underinvestment and a lack of proper workforce planning.

The people who work in our NHS are its greatest asset and we should give them the respect and the tools to get on with the job.