Hello everyone,
Thank you to all of you who took action to write to your MPs about Tumour Treating Fields and NICE's position regarding NHS access. Thanks to your action, we had a very informative meeting with Professor Jonathan Benger, Chief Medical Officer at NICE, on Tuesday 2nd September. He confirmed the NICE position that TTFields has recently been discussed at NICE's prioritisation board, but there has not been enough new evidence, or a reduction in cost, that would affect its recommendation.
We at Brain Tumour Research understand and respect the NICE methodology. However, we remain perplexed by the ability of other European countries to make this technology available.
We were therefore pleased that Prof Benger agreed to look at the situation in Spain and other European countries to better understand the disparity between the UK and countries with similar healthcare systems. They will also continue to monitor ongoing trials investigating TTFields and will assess additional evidence when it becomes available.
This week we have been planning for the AGM and termly meeting of the APPG on Brain Tumours.
So, as you’d probably expect, we have another request of you this week.
We need at least eight politicians in the room for the meeting to be quorate, which means being able to conduct the official business of an AGM. Thanks to you, we have a loyal band of political stakeholders who are always supportive when able but we do need to add new members and grow the group. So, this weekend please could you all email your MP using the template below and, as always, please cc me hugh@braintumourresearch.org.
Template to send to your MP
Subject: APPG on Brain Tumours 9th September 18:00 Committee Room 9, HoC
Dear [YOUR MP],
The APPG on Brain Tumours will meet on Tuesday 9th September at 18:00 in Committee Room 9 of HoC.
At 18:00 the group will hold its AGM and this will be followed by a varied agenda of updates, a presentation on post-surgical tissue storage post, news on progress of the Rare Cancers Bill and an introduction to Brain Tumour Justice.
I have cc’d Hugh Adams from the charity Brain Tumour Research – the group’s secretariat provider.
Hugh will provide you with a briefing document ahead of the meeting.
I very much hope that you will be able to be there on the 9th – this is a cause of great importance to me and your support would be hugely appreciated.
Kind regards,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR POSTCODE]
Template end
Many of you will have done this before, so please do so again, and if you haven’t, then please join in for the first time. Nearly all the MPs currently engaged with our APPG have done so because of being approached by a constituent who campaigns with us.
That is all there is in this week’s shorter than usual update.
There will be a lot to report on next week, plus, hopefully, the videos will begin again!
Wishing you all a peaceful week and thank you as always for your past, present and future support.
Karen, Hugh and Thomas
Published on Friday 5ᵗʰ September 2025.
