Labour MP Lee Barron (pictured above, centre) hosted a drop-in event in Westminster on Tuesday 30th June, bringing attention to the severe lack of funding for research into brain tumours and the urgent need to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients.
Inspired by a recent meeting with his constituent Jackie Hall whose 14-year-old son Max is living with a grade 4 diffuse glioma, Mr Barron has been determined to take action and ensure politicians put brain tumours at the forefront of national health plans.
The MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire was appalled to hear that extremely limited treatment options in the UK forced Jackie and her family to raise more than £40,000 to access immunotherapy treatment for Max in Germany. A common challenge for many patients; travelling abroad for treatment is often their only option. Max is living with a rare and very aggressive type of tumour most often occurring in children, but there is currently only one clinical trial in the UK recruiting paediatric brain tumour patients, and access is limited to those with a specific type of tumour.
Mr Barron is supporting our campaigning work, where we are calling on Government to:
- Support an increased investment in research into brain tumours
- Grow a strong UK research system that turns innovation into better outcomes for patients
- Increase the number of brain tumour clinical trials and the number of patients accessing them
Meeting with MPs is one of the ways in which we ensure that brain tumours remain on the political agenda. With landmark progress over the last year including increased funding from NIHR, the announcement of the National Cancer Plan and the passing of the Rare Cancers Act, we are working hard to ensure Government doesn't lose momentum.
Attracting parliamentarians from the House of Commons and House of Lords, attendees – including Peter Dowd, Shockat Adam, Anna Dixon and Juliet Campbell (pictured top, right) engaged with our Head of Stakeholder Relations, Hugh Adams, and the Charity’s campaigning team. Politicians from all parties took the time to hear more about the critical need for increasing access to clinical trials and improving survival rates.
Shockat Adam MP, Sam Bromiley, Our Policy and Public Affairs Manager with Anna Dixon MP, Hugh Adams with Peter Dowd MP.
Some MPs were prompted to join the event after hearing heart-breaking stories from their constituents who are coping with the devastating impacts of brain tumours. They pledged to push for change and advocate for better patient outcomes.
Greg Smith, MP for Mid Buckinghamshire and member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT), wants to see more innovation within the UK to prioritise finding a cure. He said: “It’s about politicians of all parties applying pressure and demanding that this government prioritises finding a cure, investing in research, delivering for the brain tumour community and making sure the UK harnesses the great clinical work taking place and spending money to find solutions.”
Another APPGBT member and longstanding supporter of our Charity, Lord Polak CBE (pictured top, left) reflected on his diagnosis of an acoustic neuroma in 1988 which left him permanently deaf in his left ear and with paralysis on half his face, as surgeons had to cut a nerve to remove the tumour. He remarked on the progress of care and treatment that’s been made since his diagnosis and acknowledged the scope for continuous improvement.
Dr Scott Arthur MP has been actively involved in our ongoing campaigning and drove forward the Rare Cancers Bill which became law in February this year. He said: “I’m optimistic for the brain tumour community, we’ve got the National Cancer Plan and we managed to get the Rare Cancers Bill over the line. There’s a lot to do to implement this and hopefully in the coming year we’ll start to see this landscape being shaped.”
Commenting on the impressive attendance of 23 politicians and importance of maintaining a commitment to drive change, Mr Barron said: “We will arrange another drop-in after the summer recess, we will have a presence at party conferences, keeping brain tumours on the minds of MPs. We could have new MPs in posts as Secretaries of State and we must ensure that they prioritise brain tumours and deliver on promises.”
Our work is only possible with your support. You can help us by engaging with your MP and sharing why the brain tumour community needs urgent change. Find out more about campaigning with us.
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