Lib Dem leader’s ‘personal’ pledge to improve cancer care
Posted 27 June 2024 - 12:49
Sir Ed Davey wants to provide a specialist nurse for every cancer patient if his party is elected, and says we need an emergency budget to fix the NHS
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has pledged to provide a dedicated specialist cancer nurse for each patient if his party is elected, as he called for an ‘emergency budget’ to fix the health service.
His ‘personal’ pledge includes the recruitment of an extra 3,400 nurses in England, funded by reforming capital gains tax and ‘reversing tax cuts for the big banks’.
Pledge to improve cancer care and reduce waiting times
Liberal Democrat policy pledges also include introducing a guarantee that 100% of patients will be able to start treatment within 62 days of urgent cancer referral, and replacing old radiotherapy equipment.
The party’s manifesto, published earlier this month, also promises moves to set up a ‘properly independent’ NHS Pay Review Body and giving more prescribing powers to nurse practitioners.
The manifesto puts forward a £9.4 billion spending package for the NHS, healthcare and social care, which would fund free personal care in England based on need, as well as paid annual leave for unpaid carers.
Sir Ed said: ‘Every day counts in a battle against cancer. But far too many people are being tragically let down and left waiting too long to start treatment after diagnosis.
‘By recruiting more specialist nurses, we would give cancer patients a single point of contact to support them through one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
‘Like millions of people, my life was turned upside down by cancer – so this is personal. The Liberal Democrats will make improving cancer care a top priority, fighting every day for better care for you and your loved ones.’
Sir Ed’s father died after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma when Sir Ed was four, and his mother died of breast cancer when he was 15.
Liberal Democrats will push for emergency health budget
On Wednesday evening he called on the next government to push through an emergency health budget to tackle waiting lists and poor GP access as soon as parliament reconvenes.
Sir Ed said: ‘The NHS is on its knees, leaving people waiting hours for an ambulance, weeks to see a GP and months to start cancer treatment.
‘There is no time to waste to fix local health services on the brink and tackle long NHS waiting times that are leaving people in pain and desperation.
‘Whatever the outcome of this election, Liberal Democrats are demanding an emergency health budget as soon as parliament returns.’
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