Urgently replace cancer strategy to avoid “thousands of preventable, premature deaths”

“Even if you can maintain that the various existing documents constitute a plan – the strategy is failing” – Adam Price MS

Adam Price MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru has today renewed his party’s calls for a new, comprehensive cancer strategy for Wales.

Raising the matter in First Minister Questions, Mr Price pointed out that all of the cancer charities in Wales are calling for a “comprehensive cancer strategy” and in doing so, would bring the nation in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.

Mr Price called for this plan to have a “new, urgent focus on early diagnosis and detection.”

Earlier this month a study in the Lancet showed that over 37% of cancers in Wales were diagnosed as a result of admission to emergency departments.

Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price MS said,

“All the cancer charities in Wales are telling us that we need a new urgent focus on early diagnosis and detection. But they say that this needs to be put at the heart of a new, comprehensive cancer strategy for Wales, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

“Welsh Government have previously argued that the various existing documents – including today’s planned care statement which includes a key cancer target – amount to a strategy.

“But missed targets – even before the pandemic – the fact that the cancer mortality gap within Wales between deprived and affluent areas is worse now than it was twenty years ago, and the fact that a recent Senedd Committee report testified that people with cancer in Wales are being forced to go private, suggests that urgent review is needed.

“Even if you can maintain – against everything every cancer charity in Wales is saying – that we do have a cancer plan, that strategy is failing. We need urgent action if we are to avoid, in the future, thousands of preventable and premature deaths amongst cancer patients in Wales.”