Parliamentary lobbying

Parliamentary lobbying  is an important aspect of our work, and through our campaigning and contacts with government, we aim to keep bowel cancer high on the political agenda and ensure that the disease is given the priority it deserves.

Our work in the area of policy and politics covers a number of important areas including:

• Providing the patient perspective – linking patients and MP’s together to ensure that the patient voice is heard, and to highlight the impact that political decisions can have on patients and their families.

• Parliamentary Voices group – building relationships with key influencers within Westminster, through this group of MPs and Lords. Read more

• Commenting on bowel cancer appraisals – we take part in drug/treatment appraisals carried out by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), to ensure patients are fairly represented when decisions are made.

• Producing reports and briefing papers for MPs – to keep them updated on bowel cancer issues and to call for improvements in bowel cancer services. Our most recent publications include:
  • Turn Up The Noise on Bowel Cancer 2009 Progress Report – Beating Bowel Cancer’s progress report on its 2012 Challenge, summarising the progress made by both the Government and the charity in meeting the aims and visions set out in the Challenge, as well as highlighting the gaps in provision that still exist.  Turn up the Noise was launched in Westminster on 21 January 2009 at the start of our BE LOUD! BE CLEAR! 2009 campaign.
  • Bowel Cancer 2012 Challenge  – In January 2007, we launched our 2012 Bowel Cancer Challenge. This important policy-shaping document highlights current problems and calls for improved services and outcomes for bowel cancer patients in four key areas
    1. A coordinated national awareness and education campaign to raise the profile of bowel cancer
    2. Faster introduction and improved uptake of the current NHS bowel cancer screening programme in England, and extension of the programme to include men and women aged 50+
    3. Availability of clinically effective treatments at the right time in the right setting for all patients
    4. Recognition of the value of prolonged, quality life

• Helping patients lobby at a local level – through our Patient Voices group, we advise and support patients who wish to lobby their local politicians to raise awareness of both local and national issues. If you are interested in finding out more about lobbying your MP, visit our media centre for information and downloads.