WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has praised local campaigners who lead important prostate cancer screening programmes across the county.
The MP raised the work of the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust and Worcestershire Ambassadors, which runs a free screening initiative for local men, during a debate in Parliament, this week.
The matter was selected for debate following a national petition and West Worcestershire topped the list of signatories across the whole country with 369 people signing the online petition request. Debates are only called when more than 100,000 sign up.
During the debate. MPs raised concerns about the challenges men are facing accessing screening tests through their GPs and the developments in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Health Minister Dame Diana Johnson confirmed that the Government’s focus is protecting men from unnecessary diagnosis and from receiving treatments that can have lifelong consequences for a cancer that might never have caused harm.
Dame Harriett said: “Over recent weeks I have spoken up for the need for men and women to come forward if they are offered screening for cancer but this petition highlighted the vital need for men to be able to access a simple blood test to detect prostate cancer.
“It is a simple but life-saving test and I’ve heard testimony from so many local people whose lives have been saved by this test. My own father was diagnosed early and lived for many years with his condition managed.
“I was keen to mark the work of Worcestershire Ambassadors, which delivers a free screening programme which has help to save many lives over the years. I hope that the Government has heard the depth of support for effective screening for prostate cancer and we do all we can to save as many lives as possible from this treatable disease.”