Activities in response t0 Covid-19
January 2022
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12th January: Debate in parliament on Access to Radiotherapy transcript available on UK parliamentary site here.
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December 2021
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14 December: #CatchUpWithCancer and APPG for Radiotherapy Cancer Summit
The urgent summit event was attended by approximately 20 parliamentarians who were all sent their local cancer waiting times ahead of the event. MPs heard from frontline clinicians, patients, and cancer experts about how the COVID induced cancer backlog was getting worse. They also heard that there was an urgent need to fund radiotherapy cancer treatment to solve the cancer backlog.
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November 2021
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15th November APPG for Radiotherapy Vice-Chair, Grahame Morris MP writes about #CatchUpWithCancer and the urgent cancer backlog
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11th November #CatchUpWithCancer co-founders bereaved father Craig Russell and Professor Pat Price appear on BBC News to discuss new cancer figures
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11th November Update on latest cancer figures - #CatchUpWithCancer call for urgent action
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9th November APPG for Radiotherapy, Chair Tim Farron MP, asks Secretary of State for a meeting to discuss the urgent cancer backlog
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8th November All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy pays tribute to Radiographers on World Radiographer Day
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1st November The Times highlights “red tape (holding back radiotherapy) pushing patients into dated cancer therapy” and letter by 50 MPs calling for investment in radiotherapy
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1st November APPG RT Chair Tim Farron MP responds to Budget debate calling for more priority for radiotherapy
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October 2021
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27th October #CatchUpWithCancer response to the Budget2021 and Spending Review
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​26th October Professor Pat Price gives evidence to Health and Social Care Committee as part of their inquiry into Cancer Services.
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24th October Sunday Express write ahead of Action Radiotherapy Chair, Professor Pat Price, appearance in front of the Health Select
Committee
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19th October The Telegraph - "We have an overwhelming and huge backlog”, Professor Pat Price comments
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September 2021
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27th September “I lost my daughter after COVID paused chemo”, mother and #CatchUpWithCancer petition author speaks
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24th September The Sun - "The cancer community has the solutions, but they need investment and the tools to act”, Professor Pat Price
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24th September Father of Kelly Smith calls for urgent action for the sake of other cancer patients experiencing life threatening delays
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24th September BBC Breakfast - "This is a major crisis… We need ringfenced investment in cancer services”, says Professor Pat Price
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16th September APPG for Radiotherapy launch new COVID manifesto update at event
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August 2021
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5th August #CatchUpWithCancer comment: CRUK patient survey finds 80% of respondents say cancer care impacted
JULY 2021
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21st July Daily Express article: “Act now to clear cancer backlog” Family campaign at Downing Street for government to put more resources into cancer services to clear backlog
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20th July The family leading the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign deliver their petition to Downing Street to mark a year of campaigning
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20th July ITV Granada reports film #CatchUpWithCancer family and campaign founder Professor Pat Price at Downing Street
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20th July Many of the 100 parliamentary supporters of #CatchUpWIthCancer show support on social media to mark one year anniversary of the campaign
19th July Grahame Morris MP highlights importance of tackling the COVID induced cancer backlog and supports #CatchUpWithCancer petition hand in during debate
June 2021
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29th June Cancer backlog raised in statement with new Health Secretary, Sajid Javid by Jonathan Ashworth MP and Navendu Mishra MP
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27th June ITV News: APPG for Radiotherapy, Chair, Tim Farron MP warns far more people could die of cancer than COVID if treatment backlog continues
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27th June Sunday Express article: Hospitals Fear Cancer “Avalanche” – comment from #CatchUpWithCancer founder Professor Pat Price
21st June The Sun: Co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer Professor Pat Price calls for urgent action to address backlog of NHS waiting lists for cancer
16th June Parliamentarians and cancer community action on social media to support the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy report: Catch Up With Cancer – The Way Forward and letter to the Prime Minister.
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14th June The Times: PM urged to go the extra mile to cut cancer backlog – article covering cross party letter
14th June The Independent: Cancer backlog after Covid threatens ‘devastating health crisis’, MPs warn in letter to Prime Minister
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13th June Sunday Express: APPG RT and #CatchUpWithCancer letter to the Prime Minister features in article: UK Cancer Backlog is Biggest NHS Crisis
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12th June APPG for Radiotherapy joins cancer community, other APPG chairs and parliamentarians in cross-party letter to the Prime Minister
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9th June #CatchUpWithCancer co-founders Professor Pat Price and family of Kelly Smith feature on LBC following LBC research – Patients face postcode lottery for cancer treatment with trusts missing targets
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8th June Health Questions: Jon Ashworth MP highlights concerns about the cancer backlog, Abena Oppong-Asare MP highlights concerns about the cancer backlog and Paul Howell MP highlights concerns about the cancer backlog
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4th June The Lancet Oncology: UK Government urged to recognise post-COVID-19 cancer backlog – report on the APPG RT and APPG Health chairs report and cancer summit
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May 2021
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​​​​​27th May BBC NI: Professor Pat Price features on The Nolan Show calling for ministers to recognise the urgent problem within cancer care
​​​​27th May The Cancer Summit and the report’s recommendations were covered by the Daily Express
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​​​​26th May Cancer Summit 2021 and the launch of the ‘Catch up with Cancer – The Way Ahead’ report chaired by Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy Tim Farron MP and Vice-Chair Grahame Morris MP
​​​​26th May #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder Craig Russell speaks on Lucy Johnston’s podcast.
​​​19th May APPG for Radiotherapy, All-Party Parliamentary Health Group and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign organised a virtual roundtable as part of the consultation seeking urgent solutions to the growing cancer backlog.
​​19th May Jonathan Ashworth during the Queen’s Speech Debate: A Plan for the NHS and Social Care calls for a much-needed investment in technology that will clear the growing COVID induced cancer backlog
​14th May Professor Pat Price is quoted in a piece in The Times about how the NHS can get back on track after the coronavirus pandemic, ‘There is a collective burying heads in sand on a scale I’ve never seen in healthcare’!
14th May Professor Pat Price speaks to BBC Midlands and calls for a more urgent response to the COVID induced Cancer backlog
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14th May Co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer and chair of Action Radiotherapy, Professor Pat Price speaks with the Daily Mail’s Andrew Pierce on his podcast: The Andrew Pierce Show: ‘This is a car crash waiting to happen’
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10-14th May Action Radiotherapy Flash Survey: One Year On analysing the impact of COVID 19 and the recovery on the front line Radiotherapy workforce
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13th May Professor Pat Price, Co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer and chair of Action Radiotherapy responds to Boris Johnson comment ‘I know it can cope’ about the cancer backlog
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13th May BBC News: Professor Pat Price speaks on the number of years of underinvestment and the need to better
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April 2021
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15th April BBC News | #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder and petition author Craig Russell calls for a more urgent response to the cancer backlog
15th April The Independent article on 330,00 people seen late by the NHS quotes #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder and petition author Craig Russell
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15th April BBC Radio Five | Catch Up With Cancer co-founder and petition author Craig Russell says “The backlog is very real and needs urgent action to prevent the loss of tens of thousands of people unnecessarily”
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15th April #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder and Chair of Action Radiotherapy, Professor Pat Price responds to the latest NHS Cancer Waiting Times
12th April The #CatchUpWithCancer Campaign and APPG RT show support for The Institute of Cancer Research, London’s statement on Radiotherapy
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2nd April Prof Pat Price Co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer and chair of Action Radiotherapy commented on the NHS leadership’s decision to disband the Cancer Recovery Taskforce in the Daily Express “Thousands of people may die by shutting cancer taskforce, charity warns”
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March 2021
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26th March New NHS England planning guidance for Trusts published on 25 March as part of NHS England’s plans for COVID recovery. #CatchUpWithCancer warns they do not go far enough to clear the cancer backlog.
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18th March Chair of the APPG RT, Tim Farron MP calls on the Government to urgently provide funding to ‘super-boost’ cancer services to clear the backlog
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18th March Dan Jarvis MP calls for additional funding for cancer services to deal with impact of COVID on cancer
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16th March #CatchUpWithCancer and Kelly’s story feature on Radio 1 following charities warn cancer death rate could rise, Craig the co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer said "In my view, the government has completely neglected cancer patients in this country."
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4th March #CatchUpWithCancer response to the Budget 2021
3rd March Tim Farron MP calls for urgent investment in radiotherapy funding during the Budget debates
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3rd March Daily Mail: “Charities slam Rishi Sunak for lack of help for hospitals” – includes #CatchUpWithCancer comment
3rd March The Sun: Cancer patients and social care ‘forgotten in Budget 2021’ as charities warn ‘lives will needlessly be lost’ - #CatchUpWithCancer comment
2nd March The Daily Mirror features #CatchUpWithCancer in cancer piece – “World fought back against COVID- let’s plough the same funds and energy into curing cancer Kelly’s parents have cofounded ‘Catch Up With Cancer’ and are now asking the government to make adequate cancer provisions in next week’s budget to boost cancer services, in order to address the backlog urgently.
February 2021
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24th February WalesOnline and Cheshire Live article on #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder and father of Kelly Smith, Craig Russell: Mum who died as covid halted cancer treatment 'a victim of pandemic', dad says. The mum-of-one, who worked as a beautician, was first diagnosed in 2017, but her fourth round of chemotherapy was halted when the pandemic hit. Twelve weeks after her chemotherapy stopped, Kelly, from Macclesfield, passed away. Craig Russell, Kelly's father, has now co-founded the Catch Up With Cancer campaign that calls for the Government and NHS to boost cancer treatments to tackle treatment delays caused by COVID-19.
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24th February MPs issue support for #CatchUpWithCancer ahead of the Budget More parliamentarians have joined the call for urgent investment in cancer services at the Budget to address the COVID induced cancer backlog. The #CatchUpWithCancer campaign thanks parliamentarians for their support on social media.
23rd February The APPG for Radiotherapy meeting with Health Minister - Chair of the APPGRT, Tim Farron, joined the chair of the Cancer APPG, Tonia Antoniazzi, the Chair of the Blood Cancer APPG, Henry Smith and chair of the APPG on Stem Cell Transplantation to meet the Health Minister, Jo Churchill. The meeting focused upon solving the COVID induced cancer backlog. The APPG’s 6-point plan to transform radiotherapy and other innovations which would help deal with the backlog were presented to the minister ahead of the Budget.
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23rd February APPG RT, vice chair, Grahame Morris MP asked the Prime Minister about the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and the need for urgent funding to clear the cancer backlog. With investment in treatments like radiotherapy and cancer workforce
18th February Over 75 Parliamentarians sign the APPG for Radiotherapy and #CatchUpWithCancer cross-party letter to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor
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18th February Daily Mail article features the cross-party letter: The human face of Britain's cancer 'disaster' threatening 100,000 patients who could miss out on treatment due to Covid pandemic
4th February #CatchUpWithCancer hold a World Cancer Day virtual parliamentary drop-in session and launch a video explaining the crisis and solutions available, over 50 attendees joined the event
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4th February Action Radiotherapy and #CatchUpWithCancer join forces with campaigners at Cancer Research UK and MacMillan for #CampaignersConnect event
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1st February Prof Pat Price, Chair of Action Radiotherapy and founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, is quoted in the Daily Mail “Deadly toll of scrapped cancer surgery revealed”
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January 2021
31st January Sunday Express feature #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder Professor Pat Price and APPGRT Chair Tim Farron MP calls for a new cancer recovery plan
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27th January The APPG for Radiotherapy join the APPG on Health and APPG on Cancer in meeting Sir Simon Stevens to discuss the urgent response needed to the cancer backlog
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26th January Sky News feature the impact on cancer patients and the story of Kelly Smith, daughter of #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder Craig Russell
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20th January #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder Professor Pat Price appears on BBC Radio Ulster
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18th January #CatchUpWithCancer comment in Daily Mail splash on BBC Question Time debate on cancer patients
17th January APPG for Radiotherapy and #CatchUpWithCancer call for a “ring of iron” around cancer services in Sunday Express
15th January Owen Thompson MP statement of support for the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign Midlothian View
15th January #CatchUpWithCancer founder Professor Pat Price appears on BBC Radio 5 live
14th January The APPG for Radiotherapy join other cancer APPGs meeting Minister, Jo Churchill
13th January Chair of Action Radiotherapy and adviser to the APPG RT, Professor Pat Price appears on the Standard Issue podcast ep 457, pod 138, to discuss Cancer, Covid and the NHS
12th January Daily Mail article “Cancer sufferer fears children will be left motherless after operation cancelled” and Catch Up With Cancer statement on surgery cancellations
11th January Action Radiotherapy chair and founder of Catch Up With Cancer comments on new radiotherapy technology, The Times
6th January Professor Pat Price comments “hugely distressing” to see further cancer surgeries cancelled, The Times
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December 2020
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26th December 'Worst fears are being realised' Cancer doctors say huge wave of unnecessary deaths loom, Sunday Express writes on APPG for Radiotherapy and Catch Up With Cancer
23rd December Cancer charities, Royal Colleges and APPG chairs sign joint declaration calling for the Spending Review to be revisited for cancer investment features in letter in The Times
23rd December METRO article on the impact of COVID on cancer services
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17th December Chair of Action Radiotherapy, Professor Pat Price, and LaTroya Hall feature on Sky News
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17th December Supported by the Catch Up With Cancer campaign LaTroya Hall writes in the Daily Mail about the delays to her husbands treatment and diagnosis
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16th December Chair of the APPG RT, Tim Farron calls for urgent investment in treatments, like lifesaving radiotherapy, to clear the cancer backlog during breast cancer screening debate
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14th December The tragic story of Sherwin Hall as told by his wife LaTroya features on BBC Breakfast with Catch Up With Cancer founder Professor Pat Price, following delays to treatment and diagnosis.
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14th December Catch Up With Cancer campaign launch Christmas “All I Want for Christmas” campaign video
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7th December APPG RT Chair, Tim Farron MP calls for urgent action to address the national cancer backlog crisis, Yorkshire Post
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7th December The #CatchUpWithCancer campaign published a comment and summary in response to the latest Radiotherapy Dataset
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3rd December The #CatchUpWithCancer campaign launch patient video series of stories of people affected by cancer during the covid crisis
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2nd December APPG for Radiotherapy and chair Tim Farron MP, led Westminster hall debate on access to Cancer diagnosis and treatment during COVID-19. The full debate can be watched here
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November 2020
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30th November Parliamentary Update - written questions submitted by Grahame Morris MP and Tim Farron MP answered
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29th November Two thousand needless pancreatic cancer deaths is highlighted by Pancreatic Cancer Action features in the Sunday Express and features Action Radiotherapy cancer backlog calculations
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26th November #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and Kelly Smith’s story features in the Daily Mail
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25th November The#CatchUpWithCancer campaign's initial response to the Comprehensive Spending Review
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23rd November “It’s the worst cancer crisis in a generation” Professor Pat Price comment in the Daily Telegraph
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18th November APPG RT cross-party letter signed by 60 MPs and #CatchUpWithCancer calling for urgent action at the Spending Review features in the Daily Express
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18th November Chair of the APPG for Radiotherapy, Tim Farron MP calls for cancer treatment funding at the Spending Review
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18th November Chris Bryant MP asks the Minister for an increase in radiotherapy capacity to help clear NHS cancer backlog
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18th November Co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer, Professor Pat Price op-ed in the Daily Express
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13th November Professor Pat Price appears on BBC Radio 5 to comment on the cancer backlog and latest cancer data
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13th November #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder and author of the 375,000 signee petition, Craig Russell issues a campaign update video calling on the Government to act at the forthcoming Spending Review
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12th November Professor Pat Price, founder of #CatchUpWithCancer & Radiotherapy4Life and chair of Action Radiotherapy, appears on BBC News at 6pm and 10pm - Interviewed by Hugh Pym and responding to the latest cancer data and cancer backlog
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12th November #CatchUpWithCancer co-founder and petition author, Craig Russell appears on Sky News
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12th November Professor Pat Price, chair of Action Radiotherapy and co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer responds to the NHS cancer waiting times statistics
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12th November APPG RT Vice-Chair Grahame Morris speaks on the importance of addressing the cancer backlog and boosting radiotherapy services in Westminster hall debate on breast cancer
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11th November APPG for Radiotherapy (APPGRT) meet to discuss the urgent need for a government response to the cancer backlog at the forthcoming Spending Review
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10th November #CatchUpWithCancer social media event results in 3,500 emails to MPs in 24 hours
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10th November Cancer APPG chair, Tonia Antoniazzi urges the Health Secretary to ensure vital cancer staff are not redeployed away from cancer treatment and care
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1st November Chair of the APPG for Radiotherapy, Tim Farron MP, calls on the Health Secretary of boost cancer services to tackle the treatment backlog
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October 2020
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29th October The Catch Up With Cancer campaign support report by Macmillan Cancer Support
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26th October Debate on the Medicines and Medical Supplies Bill in the House of Lords - Lord Patel asks about requests for approval for focused radiotherapy and the time taken to approve this.
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23rd October The Catch Up With Cancer campaign issue urgent call to boost cancer services - Prof Pat Price “We need a massive push to call on the Government to give the NHS the tools and investment it needs to tackle the cancer backlog."
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22nd October During an interview on BBC Breakfast - Prof Pat Price founder of #CatchUpWithCancer call for smart solutions in treatment and diagnostics
20th October Questions regarding the Cancer Taskforce and use of radiotherapy were raised in a debate in the House of Lords
Lord Rennard asks an oral question on the cancer recovery taskforce which was followed up by Lord McCrea , Lord Balfe and Baroness Finlay
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20th October The Daily Express article on new ONS figures and #CatchUpWithCancer clinical expert opinion
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20th October Daily Mirror feature Kelly Smith’s story and #CatchUpWithCancer: “ Young mum’s harrowing cancer death as Covid forces thousands to die along and in agony
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19th October Tonia Antoniazzi MP asks the Health Secretary Matt Hancock about the cancer backlog calling for resources to be deployed to catch up
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19th October Co-founder of #CatchUpWithCancer and father of Kelly Smith, Craig Russell, features on ITV News
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19th October The Sun article features comments from Professor Pat Price and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign on new ONS figures on deaths at home
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19th October The Daily Telegraph features comment from Professor Pat Price on the new ONS figures
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17th October Daily Mail reports on the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and the impact of the Covid response on cancer patients
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11th October The #CatchUpWithCancer campaign covered in Sunday Express article
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10th October Al Jazeera report on UK patients missing cancer treatment due to Covid and the #CatchUpWithCancer and Radiotherapy4Life calls for boost to radiotherapy
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9th October BBC Breakfast TV speak with #CatchUpWithCancer’s Craig Russell about the campaign
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7th October The Times article include patients who shared their story with the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign
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6th October Tim Farron MP, Grahame Morris MP and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, meet with Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock
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6th October BBC Three Counties Radio - #CatchUpWithCancer signees share their stories
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4th October Action Radiotherapy supporters complete the London Marathon​
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1st October The #CatchUpWithCancer and Radiotherapy4Life campaign respond to the Health and Social Care Committee report on cancer backlog recommendations
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September 2020
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27th September The Sunday Times “Cancer sufferers go door to door to pay for private treatment” article with quote from #CatchUpWithCancer
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24th September Stephanie Peacock MP calls on the Government to outline its cancer recovery plan & issue a statement on the cancer backlog
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24th September Grahame Morris MP had two written questions answered by Jo Churchill on plans to increase capacity in radiotherapy and funding allocations to replace linear accelerator radiotherapy machines
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22nd September Health Minister Jo Churchill answered the written PQ from Daisy Cooper MP on the APPG RT 6 point plan for radiotherapy
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21st September Lord Rennard asks about the cancer backlog in the house of Lords
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21st September Health Minister Jo Churchill answered the written PQ from Kate Osborne MP on steps to improve radiotherapy services in response to the cancer backlog and from Tim Farron MP on capital funding for new radiotherapy machines to replace those above the recommended age
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17th September Health Minister Jo Churchill answered the written PQ from Grahame Morris MP on funding for cancer drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
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16th September APPGRT Meeting - to discuss new #CatchUpWithCancer and Action Radiotherapy analysis of the cancer backlog
15th September Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock agrees to meet with the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign in response to Tim Farron MP
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15th September Paul Bristow MP asks about the cancer screening backlog
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15th September Daily Express front page: FOR THE SAKE OF 35,000 LIVES…WE MUST ACT NOW
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15th September Daily Express comment by Prof Pat Price
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15th September Daily Mail: MPs warn – Cancer backlog is “frightening” – joint letter from Cancer APPGs
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14th September Daily Mail: #CatchUpWithCancer campaign features in Lockdown blow to Britain's health: Hospital admissions for seven major non-Covid illnesses, including heart attacks, slump by 173,000 – as GPs are ordered to see patients face-to-face
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8th September Tonia Antoniazzi MP urges Matt Hancock to publish a Government cancer recovery plan to #CatchUpWithCancer on 8th September with Matt Hancock MP responding “We have been working on it intensively and, as I say, the backlog has come down by about half, but clearly there is much more to do”
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5th September #CatchUpWithCancer Change.Org petition hits 300,000 signees
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3rd September Tonia Antoniazzi MP asks the Leader of the House if the Secretary of State will clarify his comments made on the 1st September about the cancer backlog being half cleared
2nd September #CatchUpWithCancer petition author and father of Kelly Smith, Craig Russell issues direct video message to Matt Hancock
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1st September Chris Bryant MP asks the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, about tackling the cancer treatment backlog caused by Covid and boosting treatments like radiotherapy to help - see clip
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August 2020
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27th August Prof Pat Price appeared on Radio 5 live and BBC regional radio stations to discuss the impact of Covid on cancer patients and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign
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27th August CapX article by Prof Pat Price - Government must act now to avert a Covid cancer catastrophe
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25th August #CatchUpWithCancer petition hits 250,000 signatures
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22nd August The Times 107 MPs write to Prime Minister to warn cancer backlog may cost 30,000 lives More than 100 MPs have written to Boris Johnson after the coronavirus lockdown caused severe disruption to cancer diagnoses and treatments. They have called on him to deliver an emergency boost to treatment capacity.
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21st August 107 MPs sign the APPG for Radiotherapy & #CatchUpWithCancer cross-party letter to the Prime Minister
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24th August Professor Pat Price gives a video update on the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and thanks supporters
17th August The Sun - Brits now more likely to die from cancer than 15 years ago because of coronavirus Professor Pat Price called on ministers to tackle the growing backlog with the “same speed, energy, and focus” deployed against the pandemic.
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16th August Sunday Express - Deborah James - I might be recovering from cancer but my friends are gone Kelly's parents Mandy and Craig Russell are now calling on the Government to get cancer services back up and running to avoid further tragedies and have launched a petition - which has so far received more than 200,000 signatures - to stop tens of thousands of coronavirus-linked cancer deaths.
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11th August Hits Radio Manchester interview with Professor Pat Price “This is the worst cancer crisis in my lifetime... we have never halted
cancer services”
10th August Hits Radio - Kelly Smith’s father Craig Russell interview about the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and loss of his daughter following Covid impacts on her cancer treatment
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6th August Hits Radio SPECIAL REPORT: Fears COVID-19 pandemic is leading to 'worst cancer crisis in a lifetime' Professor Pat Price, is interviewed for special report on Hits Radio network
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3rd August The #CatchUpWithCancer petition on Change.org now has 200,000 signatures just weeks after being launched
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July 2020
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31st July Bloomberg article: Radiotherapy Seen as Key to Solving U.K. Covid Cancer Crisis “Radiotherapy is faster, quicker and remote, so it’s the smart solution to this crisis,” said Pat Price, chair of Action Radiotherapy, who has been an oncologist for 32 years and calls the current crisis in Britain “the greatest tragedy to hit cancer care in my lifetime.”
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19th July Lurgan Mail Lurgan Mail article highlights cancer services: Cancer patients, who have had no treatment since Lockdown, still await appointments for chemotherapy says MP
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19th July Sunday Express Father’s grief: ‘They stopped chemotherapy as it might make her vulnerable to Covid’
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19th July Sunday Express Founder of Radiotherapy4Life & #CatchUpWithCancer, and Chair of Action Radiotherapy, Professor Price writes Delay is a danger: We need to act fast: “Without doubt we are facing a truly national crisis”… “There needs to be a ‘super boost’ to cancer service from diagnostics right through the treatment pathway, to cope with what is shaping up to be the mother of all backlogs. And a good deal of that boost needs to go into transforming radiotherapy”.
17th July BBC Midlands Professor Pat Price is interview “It is vital we clear the cancer backlog and get cancer services back up and running. We can save thousands of lives if we act now”
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11-14th July The #CatchUpWithCancer campaign has also featured extensively in local and regional news
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13th July The Express Cancer petition: How to sign Kelly Smith petition to stop THOUSANDS of deaths
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13th July The Sun Petition to stop tens of thousands of Covid-linked cancer deaths hits 145k in 48 hours after young mum died in lockdown
13th July ITV Petition calling for action to tackle cancer deaths tops 100,000 signatures
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13th July The Sunday Telegraph While Covid has been prioritised, what has become of the rest of the NHS?
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12th July BBC News Coronavirus: Cancer patient Kelly Smith's family petition backed
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12th July The #CatchUpToCancer campaign petition hits 100,000 on First Day – 150,000 in under 48 hours
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11th July The Sun My friend died too soon when coronavirus stopped her treatment – a tsunami of cancer deaths is about to hit
11th July - Launch of #CatchUpWithCancer Radiotherapy4Life have teamed up with family of Kelly Smith to launch the campaign and Change.Org petition on BBC Breakfast TV | to get cancer services up and running, boost radiotherapy and save thousands of lives
8th July Digital Health Calls for innovation fund for radiotherapy tech to help ease cancer backlog - An innovation fund for advanced radiotherapy IT and technical solutions should be established to help ease the “huge” backlog in cancer patients due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new recovery plan published by the APPG RT
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8th July Hippocratic Post Prof Pat Price urgent call for resolution to cancer backlog - Cancer Backlog: Action Radiotherapy Response
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6th July The APPGRT launch the 6-point plan to transform radiotherapy services and save thousands of lives from the cancer backlog
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6th July Panorama - Britain’s cancer crisis features radiotherapy services interview with Professor Pat Price
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6th July BBC Breakfast - Professor Pat Price appears to discuss the Panorama findings and in particular impact on radiotherapy services and the APPG RT 6 point plan to transform radiotherapy
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June 2020
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23rd June Chair of the APPG for Radiotherapy, Tim Farron MP raises the case for boosting radiotherapy during Health and Social Care Oral Questions
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23rd June Chair of the APPG for Radiotherapy, Tim Farron MP, speaks on radiotherapy during the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill | Remaining Stages debate
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17th June The APPG for Radiotherapy wrote to NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens requesting a meeting to discuss the radiotherapy services and the potential for boosting radiotherapy to mitigate the impact of the cancer backlog
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11th June The APPGRT responds to the SABR announcement The APPG had written to the Secretary of State following the reports in The Times that an announcement would be coming. Tim Farron MP, Chair of the APPG RT said: “It is absolutely vital that the decision to accelerate the rollout of SABR is backed by a detailed plan to make sure there are no further delays to rollout and we bring an end to the current situation where just half of NHS Trusts In England are able to offer the treatment. We have called for the acceleration of SABR for a long time but this welcome announcement urgently needs to be backed up with concrete action and a plan to boost radiotherapy services to help deal with the pressures they are currently facing.”
11th June Professor Pat Price responds by video to the SABR announcement
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11th June - NHS England formally announce the accelerated rollout for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) from 2022 to April 2021 in a press release - The precise radiotherapy treatment which requires fewer doses than standard radiotherapy, cutting the number of hospital visits that potentially vulnerable cancer patients need to make. Rather than full rollout by 2022, it will now be available across the NHS by the end of this financial year.
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10th June Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Why radiotherapy is crucial for cancer patients during and post Covid-19 - Joint article by Professor Pat Price and Kevin Brown
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5th June The Times Extend therapies to ease cancer backlog, doctors tell Hancock includes reports on 243 radiotherapy professionals writing to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care & subsequent NHS decision on accelerating the Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) rollout. While detail of the NHS plan has not been made publicly available the article states “Every UK cancer centre can provide SABR but only 26 out of England’s 52 centres are permitted to offer it, according to letters and parliamentary questions. The treatment has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, but NHS England had indicated that the national expansion would not be completed until 2022. The Times can reveal that the NHS now plans to bring this forward so that all hospitals can carry out SABR by April but meanwhile the machines sit in hospitals unused.”
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The APPG for Radiotherapy responds asking for official detail of the plan: https://twitter.com/APPGRT/status/1268861591816208386
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4th June Lancet Oncology - Initiation of the Global Coalition for Radiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic Professor Pat Price & Shandi E Barney
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1st June Open letter from radiotherapy professionals to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care calling for the end of SABR rationing reaches 235 signatures in under a week. The open letter states: “NHS England must stop rationing Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR). The use of SABR is essential to increase UK radiotherapy capacity, in order to deal with the cancer backlog during the COVID-19 pandemic”
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May 2020
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31st May Sunday Express - Putting off cancer treatments is “trading deaths” says experts Professor Pat Price quoted “This will have a domino effect and we are bracing ourselves for a tsunami of cancer cases. Delays in restarting diagnostic services will lead to delays in diagnosis and more advanced cancer. More patients will no longer be curable by surgery, meaning we will have to deal with our own backlog, as well as these cases which were not treated in a timely way. This will likely be overwhelming.”
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28th May APPG on Cancer share cancer patient and Paralympic gold medalist David Smith’s strategies to combat anxiety video series from Action Radiotherapy YouTube channel
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26th May The Sun - NHS ‘is rationing innovative cancer treatment’ which could help with surge in cases due to coronavirus, experts warn Professor Pat Price "We were at capacity to start with so when we get more patients coming through, we will not be able to deal with it. We've got some real big solutions here and it's crazy that we've got machinery here that could solve some of the backlog and help improve survival, and yet we're not being allowed to use it. It's madness."
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26th May Sky News: Experts warn cancer treatment which could save lives is being ‘rationed’ - Prof Pat Price, chair of Action Radiotherapy "We were at capacity to start with so when we get more patients coming through, we will not be able to deal with it. We've got some real big solutions here and it's crazy that we've got machinery here that could solve some of the backlog and help improve survival, and yet we're not being allowed to use it. It's madness."
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24th May Sunday Express - MPs demanding cancer care plan - features the letter written by the seven APPGs calling for a national cancer recovery plan to deal with the backlog of cancer cases
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24th May Action Radiotherapy, Radiotherapy4Life and the APPG RT launch email your MP appeal calling for the removal of restrictions on advanced radiotherapy that would allow patients to be treated, more safely and more quickly
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22nd May The APPG RT joins a group of cancer APPGs in a letter to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock calling for a cancer recovery plan
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20th May The APPG RT and APPG on Cancer met with Health Minister Jo Churchill and NHS England National Cancer Director, Dame Cally Palmer to discuss radiotherapy, cancer services and the impacts of Covid
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18th May Members of the APPGRT take part in a meeting with all APPGs on cancer to discuss the impacts of Covid-19 on cancer services and recommendations which could be offered to Government
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17th May Mail on Sunday - Cancer specialists demand urgent meeting with Matt Hancock over 'crazy' NHS decision to ration treatment features recommendations made by the APPGRT about removing commissioning restrictions on the advanced radiotherapy treatment, SABR (Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy)
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14th May Virtual APPG meeting
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5th May Professor Pat Price present flash survey results at Global Coalition for Radiotherapy meeting
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4th May Tim Farron, Chair of the APPGRT in Politics Home/ The House Magazine live - Radiotherapy is a vital treatment that can reduce unnecessary cancer deaths during the coronavirus pandemic
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2nd May
The APPG RT responds to comments made by NHS England’s National Cancer Director during Health and Social Care Select Committee hearing (2 May 2020)
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy have reacted with concern following answers given by NHS England’s National Cancer Director, Dame Cally Palmer, at the Health and Social Care Committee, which appear out of step with the evidence of a mini-inquiry run by the APPG this week. In response APPG RT Chair, Tim Farron MP and Vice-Chair, Grahame Morris, have written to Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive, NHS England, to call for an urgent virtual meeting to discuss the findings and set out how boosting radiotherapy services is an unmissable opportunity for the NHS to prevent avoidable cancer deaths during Covid-19
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April 2020
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30th April The Times - Cancer patients at risk as radiotherapy machines stand idle - includes the evidence submitted by the APPGRT to the Health and Social Care Committee
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30th April Action Radiotherapy's publish the results of the flash survey impact of covid-19 on UK radiotherapy
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30th April The APPG RT publishes a mini-inquiry and the findings are submitted as evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee
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25th April Sky News - Professor Pat Price appears as a cancer expert on Sky News to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment pathways
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24th April The APPG for Radiotherapy conduct virtual meeting with the Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, Jeremy Hunt. The APPG agreed to produce a body of evidence for the Health Select Committee’s ongoing work in the area of health services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
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24th April Action Radiotherapy launch a flash survey for radiotherapy professions to understand how Covid-19 is affecting UK radiotherapy
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23rd April ITV Central - Professor Pat Price appears calls for action to avoid the “double tragedy” of losing as many patients from cancer as we do from COVID-19 - Cancer sufferer feels 'sacrificed' for COVID-19 patients after vital operation cancelled
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22nd Apri The APPG RT were joined in a virtual meeting by members of the Cancer APPG (22 April 2020) to discuss the ongoing need for action to prevent a further epidemic of cancer deaths
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17th April APPGRT along with chairs of APPGs on Cancer react to Matt Hancock's comments on Covid/Cancer
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17th April Bryan Robson, former England and Manchester United captain supports the Action Radiotherapy campaign to help cancer patients during the Covid-19 pandemic via twitter
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16th April The Times Redbox - Cancer patients deserve the best treatment despite pressures of coronavirus
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14th April Action Radiotherapy joins urgent teleconference with other cancer charities and Alex Norris MP, to discuss the radiotherapy emergency
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12th April Sunday Express - Cancer deaths set to soar amid coronavirus crisis - The article mentions the APPG RT letter to the Matt Hancock calling for a refocus on preventing avoidable cancer deaths
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9th April APPGRT virtual meeting - to discuss COVID-19 pressures and how radiotherapy services are responding to them.
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8th April Launch of Global Coalition for Radiotherapy (GCR)
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1st April The APPGRT sent a letter to Matt Hancock warning about the impact of coronavirus on cancer services, urging him to prioritise PPE for radiotherapy professionals and to boost radiotherapy capacity to save lives
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March 2020
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28th March National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published COVID-19 rapid guideline: delivery of radiotherapy
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23rd March UK lockdown
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