I have signed a cross-party letter to the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP in support of The Brain Tumour Charity’s call for a National Brain Tumour Strategy.
In late February, The Brain Tumour Charity launched an open letter addressed to all four UK Health Ministers. In just over three weeks of going live online, the letter had exceeded its target of obtaining 40,000 signatures – and had reached more than 52,000 before it closed on April 15th.
The letter points out that brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of those under 40. Despite this, there have been few clinical breakthroughs compared to other diseases with treatment options still mostly limited to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
It says that for years, people diagnosed with a brain tumour have been falling through the cracks. This can range from multiple misdiagnoses and trips to GPs, where the Charity’s Improving Brain Tumour Care survey indicates that 41% of respondents said they visited their GP three or more times before getting a diagnosis.
Evidence provided by the Charity indicates that there are issues along the entire pathway that need to be solved – including in the areas of diagnosis, care, treatment, and research. According to The Brain Tumour Charity, this can only be tackled through systematic change and a comprehensive National Brain Tumour Strategy that covers the whole patient pathway.
It is vital that the Scottish Government make sure that people who have brain tumours receive the care they need – from a speedy diagnosis to having access to the most modern treatment options.
Brain tumours are a complex disease but those affected have been left behind for too long. This has to change. There now needs to be a decisive strategy which will lead to the systemic change that is required to tackle this devastating disease.
For me, it was a “no brainer” to have signed the letter to the Cabinet Secretary and I now urge him to listen and work with the brain tumour community in the creation of an effective strategy.
Cameron Miller, Director of External Affairs & Strategy at The Brain Tumour Charity said:
“It is inspiring to see the level of support we have received across the political spectrum for the call for a National Brain Tumour Strategy. We thank every politician for joining the brain tumour community in this call and on the journey to improving brain tumour care for all.
“We all want to see a step change in the way brain tumours are tackled so that they are no longer placed on the ‘too difficult’ pile because of their complexity. A Strategy would address the challenges people currently face across the whole patient pathway.”
To find out more, visit: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/get-involved/campaigning-for-change/what-were-campaigning/national-brain-tumour-strategy-its-a-no-brainer/ .
