Welsh Liberal Democrats launch new Cancer Strategy

Welsh Liberal Democrats have launched their new Cancer Strategy to make a dramatic change to the inadequate support Wales has in place right now.

Liberal Democrats Kirsty Williams AM and Veronica German AM visited the Marie Curie hospice in Penarth on Wednesday February 16 to kick-start their campaign and launch their policy document, Wales Can Tackle Cancer.

Veronica German AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister, said: “There is an increasing body of evidence which shows under the Labour-Plaid government, Wales has slipped behind England, despite spending more per head on our health services.”

They have set out a plan to develop a National Cancer Plan for Wales to roll out the latest IMRT radiotherapy across Wales, invest in state of the art screening, ensure a personal service that goes the extra mile for patients and families and promote the mutual support groups so that patients receive the reassurance they need.

Karen Stevens, Manager for the Marie Curie hospice in Penarth could not comment on the political strategy but said: “There is a great demand on our services right now. The number of patients is increasing and we are seeing more people than we have ever done before.

We are the only hospice in Wales and we provide an essential service, this is the only place Welsh people can go.”

Kirsty Williams AM, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: “Wales can tackle cancer but it needs the Government to give it the priority and attention that it deserves.

We will redirect money currently in the NHS budget to fund newer medicines and modern equipment to tackle cancer.”

The new document sets out evidence, which shows Wales is behind both Scotland and England in Cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Mrs German said: "The Welsh Government has failed to develop proper strategies to improve the prevention and treatment of cancer, as Scotland and England have done. The result of this has been patients in Wales receiving worse services in Wales than over the border."