Brain tumours have blighted so many lives: every year around 12,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour and just 14 per cent of people survive their disease for 10 years or more. I know there is much more to be done to improve survival and quality of life for people affected by a brain tumour and I am pleased to be an Officer for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Brain Tumours. We are committed to raising awareness of the issues facing the brain tumour community in order to improve research, diagnosis, information, support, treatment and care outcomes.
The previous Government sought to build on the legacy of Dame Tessa Jowell’s campaigning in her final months, by committing to make the treatment 5-ALA – which enables more accurate surgery on brain tumours – available in every neurosurgical centre in England.
I recognise the value of research into the causes, treatment and care for brain tumours, and commend the work of patient groups such as The Brain Tumour Charity and Brain Tumour Research in this area. As part of the Dame Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, since 2018, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has committed £11.3 million across 16 projects for research into brain tumours. My understanding is that funding remains available from the original £40 million announced in 2018.
I fully appreciate that there is further work to be done in tackling this disease and have brought your views to the attention of my colleagues on the Shadow Health team, to ensure they are aware of the continued strength of feeling and crucial work to be done. Ministers have recently committed to ensuring that people with brain tumours have access to effective treatments through their planned National Cancer Plan, and I will be holding Ministers to account for delivering on their promises.
