Yesterday, at the House of Commons, there was a Backbench Business debate focusing on research and treatment of brain tumours.
Just six weeks before the second anniversary of the death of her sister, Margaret, the session featured a heartfelt contribution from Dame Siobhain McDonagh (above left). Dame McDonagh had called for the debate alongside Charlie Maynard MP (above centre), whose sister, Georgina, is also living under the shadow of a glioblastoma diagnosis.
We were pleased to provide briefing documents for attending MPs, for the Conservative Party response delivered by Dr Luke Evans, and for Health Minister, Ashley Dalton (above right).
In her response to the contributions, during an emotional hour, Minister Dalton said: “For those affected by this devastating disease, every discovery, every treatment and every moment matters.
"We recognise that more needs to be done to stimulate high-quality, high-impact research into brain tumours… We completely understand the strength of feeling on this issue… That is why we are committed to making a real difference for patients with brain cancer. We will leave no stone unturned until they get the first-class care that they deserve. I look forward to further discussing how we can achieve this when I meet members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) next week.”
Brain tumour campaigners on the Westminster Terrace, following the debate (left to right): Dawn Emerton, Alison Andrew, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Brain Tumour Research Thomas Brayford, Chris South, Head of Stakeholder Relations for Brain Tumour Research Hugh Adams, Georgina Maynard and Dame Siobhain McDonagh
At Brain Tumour Research, we also keenly await next week’s meeting of the APPGBT, for which we provide the secretariat – it looks likely to be packed and passionate, with a large number of MPs already confirming their attendance to represent their constituents affected by brain tumours.
You can read a full written record of yesterday’s proceedings here.
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