“Best Cancer Care Is Paramount”, Says Health Secretary Vaughan Gething

The Welsh Government’s revised Cancer Delivery Plan has today been launched by Health Secretary Vaughan Gething. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The revised plan which had been developed by the Cancer Implementation Group in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, including the third sector, makes commitments to continue to improve survival rates for cancer; reduce early death caused by the disease and to close the gap with the best providers of cancer care in Europe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The plan focusses on delivering better results for those with lung cancer; improving early detection of cancer through better access to diagnostics and ensuring the levels of care that cancers patients in Wales receive from the NHS are of the highest standard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vaughan Gething said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Sadly, cancer touches all our lives at some point. Most of us will know a friend or relative that has had the disease; some will have had a personal experience of it. Some will have lost the fight, but thankfully, many will have survived and gone on to live full and healthy lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re proud that here in Wales cancer survival rates continue to increase year on year. Early death through cancer has declined by around 14 per cent over ten years. Overall scores given by patients in Wales to our cancer patient experience survey were positive. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Spending on cancer services have risen from £347 million in 2011-12 to £409 million in 2014-15. We have provided nearly £10 million for replacement linear accelerators; we fully support the new £200 million Velindre Cancer Centre and £15 million has been allocated in the draft budget for better diagnostics. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Despite all of this, there’s always more to do to ensure that we deliver the best possible cancer care for people here in Wales, this is paramount. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I want to ensure that those people who have any form of the disease have access to exceptional treatment throughout their experience. Our renewed Together for Health – Cancer Delivery Plan, first published in 2012, clearly outlines the actions we are going to take to improve cancer survival rates. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s our vision for the future – our commitment, in writing, to ensuring we are amongst the best in Europe for our cancer care. People in Wales deserve nothing less.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​