Government statement on Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission
13 May 2019 (updated on 13 May 2019)
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock made a statement in the House of Commons on the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced the NHS rollout of the pioneering 5-ALA cancer treatment drug, which comes a year after the death of Baroness Tessa Jowell from brain cancer. Dame Tessa Jowell campaigned passionately for the introduction of 5-ALA, which is a fluorescent liquid that makes cancerous cells show up under a blue light.
The Health Secretary told the House,
"For far too long tackling brain cancer had been put in the 'too difficult' box, and we are determined to change that."
He went on to say that
"I'm pleased to inform the House that we've now rolled out this ground breaking treatment (5-ALA) across England."
Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, responded to the statement, first welcoming the Government announcement and then asking:
"Does he [The Secretary of State] agree that we desperately need more involvement in clinical trials?...How will the Government encourage more trials and the sharing of data?...Can he guarantee that the NHS will see increased capital investment budgets in the spending review?"
- Watch Parliament TV: statement on Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission
- Find out more about the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (external site)
- Read Commons Hansard: statement on Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission
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