Improving care and treatment for breast cancer patients was the only subject on the agenda today (Tuesday 8 January 2013) as Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine led a meeting with the Prime Minister at No.10 Downing Street.
The meeting has become something of an annual event and featured Steve's co-chairs of the All-Party Breast Cancer Group, Annette Brooke MP and Sharon Hodgson MP as well as the Chief Executive's of the three main UK breast cancer charities; Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign and Breast Cancer Care.
The meeting saw the Prime Minister pledge his support for work to eradicate the inequalities affecting the care and treatment of women with secondary breast cancer and older people with breast cancer. Among the other topics under discussion was the availability of fully digital screening services across the England and the age-extension up to 73 of the breast cancer screening programme.
Speaking after the meeting, Steve Brine said; "We need to ensure that the care of older and secondary breast cancer patients is brought up to par. It was a very productive meeting with the Prime Minister to explain the issues surrounding these areas and we gained his support for our on-going work, which will help to improve services not only in Winchester but across England.
"David Cameron has a clear personal commitment to helping us fight this terrible disease and it was great to be able to brief him on our forthcoming inquiry into older people with breast cancer and secure not only his backing for that work but agreement that the Department for Health will respond fully to our final report and recommendations."
As a result of the meeting, the Prime Minister has also agreed to write to the NHS Commissioning Board to ask how it intends to monitor the Breast Cancer Quality Standard, which lays out what best practise in care looks like.
In a joint statement, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign and Breast Cancer Care said; "This promising meeting with the Prime Minister is a fantastic example of how we, as charities devoted to breast cancer, are working together with the government to improve the standards of treatment and care surrounding this disease. We hope to build on this encouraging start as we move towards bridging the gap in survival and saving more lives from this disease."
Pictured; Steve Brine with the delegation and David Cameron in the Cabinet Room at No.10 Downing Street where the meeting took place.
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