Policy news

Policy News

UPDATE 06/12/11

MP debates bowel cancer in key debate

In November Guy Opperman MP secured an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on bowel cancer. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness of the key issues and keep the pressure on Government to  deliver the successful effective roll out of Flexi-Sig screening in the coming years.   We are really grateful for his on-going support and efforts to raise the issue with the Minister.

Guy Opperman MP kindly wore our Be Loud Be Clear tie but was keen to stress he had disabled the musical element to ensure there no further Tie Gate incidents.  To watch the debate go to Guy Opperman's blog

Fight against changes that force chemotherapy patients to undergo stressful benefit checks

Beating Bowel Cancer is proud to support Macmillan Cancer Support’s campaign against the Department of Work and Pensions decision to propose changes to the benefits system. The proposals will have devastating consequences for many thousands of cancer patients.  In December we were pleased to join a coalition of cancer charities in a letter to The Times which proved very successful.

Download the letter

The letter attracted almost 90 signatures in total including 30 cancer charities and nearly 60 cancer specialists, academics, welfare experts and patients - which is a great effort in only a few days. It sent a strong message to Ministers about the need to rethink their welfare reform proposals.

The key clauses of the Welfare Reform Bill relating to the time limiting of the ESA will be considered by the House of Lords in mid-January. A DWP consultation is also due to begin before Christmas on the Government's proposals to remove the automatic exemption for all cancer patients from the ESA medical assessment

Under the plans being consulted on, seriously ill cancer patients in the middle of gruelling intravenous chemotherapy treatment will be forced to prove they are too sick to work. Some patients will have to face back-to-work interviews or be denied a crucial benefit - Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This is despite unambiguous recommendations from cancer experts and 30 cancer charities who have clearly stated that patients going through debilitating cancer treatment - and who have to leave work - should be automatically eligible for ESA.

Until now, cancer patients receiving non-oral chemotherapy have been exempt from work-focused interviews and medical assessments to determine whether they may be fit for work, while oral chemotherapy or radiotherapy patients have not been given this protection. Cancer charities, representing the views of patients, have asked the DWP to end this discrepancy as the side-effects of oral chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be just as physically debilitating as non oral chemotherapy. However, instead of extending exemptions to particularly vulnerable cancer patients, the DWP is proposing to remove these from all.

Macmillan has launched a petition to call on the Government to make changes to the Welfare Reform Bill.  Add your support to the petition.

UPDATE 07/09/11

Chief Executive challenges Prime Minister on the Health Bill

Since the publication of the Health and Social Care Bill in January, The Bill was "paused" for a rethink, after it ran into serious opposition from a huge number of charities and within the NHS. It was only re-introduced with the promise of major changes and a series of listening events attended by health Ministers across the country.

Mark Flannagan, Chief Executive of Beating Bowel Cancer attended one, arranged by the Department of Health where he had the opportunity to speak directly to the Prime Minister, David Cameron. He highlighted the importance of the patient voice in the reforms and the need to ensure that the cancer services are not affected during this period of upheaval within the NHS.

The heavily amended Bill has now received its third reading in the Commons and the Government will now turn its attention to getting the Health and Social Care Bill through the House of Lords. It is likely to remain controversial especially going into the political party season where it will be debated by delegates further.

Campaigning for cancer patients

Further controversial changes were announced by the Government in the last session to shake up the benefits system. This has huge implications for people living with cancer. Beating Bowel Cancer has joined forces with a number of national charities including Macmillan and Cancer Research UKto campaign for a change in the bill.

We know that most people with cancer want to work but often can’t because of their condition or treatment. They may need more time and support to return to work after recovery. The Welfare Reform Bill now receives its second reading in the House of Lords in September and we will be speaking to Peers to ensure the Bill does not adversely impact upon people with cancer.

 We will keep you informed of progress.