Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article - 12th June

Swindon is the fastest expanding town in the country. Whilst this means more investment to improve infrastructure and regenerate our town centre, we need to ensure that local health provision can keep up with the growth.

Local residents who require access to radiotherapy often contact me to share their experiences. Currently, Cancer patients in Swindon who require life-saving treatment are required to travel to hospitals in Oxford or Bristol. This means that there are up to 700 patients each year making up to 4,200 70 mile round trips in order to receive their treatment. This is painstakingly long and both costly to the NHS and the patients themselves.

It is clear that a long journey each day can cause unnecessary stress to both patients and their families. Some Cancer sufferers are not in a position to transport themselves to their treatment every day, therefore there is a requirement for a significant amount of organisation and commitment from family members or friends to be available. 

So whilst most patients feel that while they receive excellent care thanks to the Government’s record investment in the NHS and cancer services, they feel that the travel required is detrimental to their treatment.

That’s why I have been working hard to raise awareness for the campaign to bring a dedicated radiotherapy centre to the GWH in Swindon. Last week we had the Brighter Futures £2.9 million fundraising launch which is part of the two-year appeal to pay for the centre. The week before, myself and Robert Buckland wrote jointly to Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, and Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, in order to secure their support for the centre.

I am pleased that I have already received positive responses from both, outlining their will to do as much as they can to deliver the best possible radiotherapy care for residents in Swindon. 

The Government itself is focused on fighting Cancer. In the last Parliament, £750 million was given as additional funding, including £450 million to help the NHS diagnose cancer earlier. I was also a big supporter of the £1.16 billion Cancer Drugs Fund, which has helped more than 60,000 cancer patients since it was set up to provide pioneering drugs to those who need them most.

Here in Swindon our local residents deserve easy access to life-saving treatment. Nobody, friends and family included, should have to face long journeys in order to fight the terrible nightmare that is cancer. That’s why I will continue to lend all the support I can to try and make sure that this radiotherapy centre can go ahead. As the fundraising campaign slogan goes - the time is now!