Local MSP At Major Cancer Conference

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has played a key role at the fifth annual ‘Scotland Against Cancer’ Conference. The event, hosted by Cancer Research UK Scotland and organised in collaboration with some of Scotland’s leading cancer organisations, is the most important cancer conference before next year’s Parliamentary elections.

Mr Stevenson led one of five discussion groups, all looking at the broad theme of how Scotland can prepare itself for the challenges of cancer up to 2020 and beyond.

Issues, which the groups considered, included how politicians can help the NHS respond to the rising cancer incidence resulting from an ageing population, how they can ensure everyone living in Scotland has equality of access to the appropriate care and treatment and what role patients can play in the development of cancer policy.

Mr Stevenson said:

“I was really pleased when Cancer Research UK Scotland asked me to contribute to this unique event in the Scottish political calendar. I learnt a lot from listening to people in the frontline of research and clinical care and those with firsthand experience of living with a cancer diagnosis about what they want politicians to do. The consensus was clear: as Cancer Research UK’s ‘Cancer 2020’ campaign advocates, we’ve got to start planning now for the cancer challenges of 2020 and beyond. More than 150,000 have signed their Cancer 2020 petition, and I was delighted to add my support to such a powerful cause.”

Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Professor Alex Markham, said:

“Cancer Research UK Scotland is really grateful to Stewart for making the time to be with us today. We really value his support and that of so many MSPs who campaign on cancer issues, especially through the Cross Party Group on Cancer in the Scottish Parliament.

“It’s so important that the priorities of Scotland’s diverse cancer community are taken on board and championed by the different parties in advance of next year’s Parliamentary elections. In particular, we hope that our call – supported by our Cancer 2020 petition signed by over 150,000 people from across the UK – for politicians to plan now for future cancer challenges up to 2020 and beyond will be heard. With Stewart’s backing, we’re confident it will be”.

Notes:

The Scotland Against Cancer Conference is a major event in the Scottish cancer community’s calendar. In addition to active support from the influential Cross Party Group on Cancer in the Scottish Parliament, it had an impressive line-up of keynote speakers. These included Andy Kerr MSP, Minister for Health and Community Care, and Sir David Carter, Chairman of the Health Foundation & Trustee of Cancer Research UK. MSPs from all parties also contributed to the day.

Cancer Research UK Scotland will use the Conference’s recommendations to help inform its own manifesto for the election. This will be published in the New Year and circulated widely to the different political parties.

Cancer Research UK Scotland is very grateful to Gold Sponsors, Scottish Cancer Industry Group of the ABPI, and Silver Sponsors, Bayer HealthCare; GlaxoSmithKline; Lilly; Merck; Novartis Oncology; Ortho Biotech; Roche and Sanofi Aventis, for their support, without which the Scotland Against Cancer Conference would not be possible.

Cancer Research UK Scotland is also very grateful to Cancerbackup Scotland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Myeloma UK, Scottish Cancer Industry Group of the ABPI and Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care for their help in organising the conference programme.
Categories [Health and Community Care]