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 12 May 2008 06:55 BST

Improved cancer screening pledged

Monday, 24 Sep 2007 16:43
Screening opportunities have been improved for breast and colon cancers

Health In Focus 

Gordon Brown has pledged to improve cancer screening services for both men and women.

The prime minister said the improvements would be made as part of a drive to make the NHS "personal to you".

He said the ages for breast cancer screening would be extended by six years and colon cancer screening is to be extended into people's 70s.

Speaking at the Labour party conference, Mr Brown maintained that every suspected breast cancer should be treated as urgent.

Men and women with cancer concerns have also been made a guarantee that their consultant will be able to fast track them.

"I want an NHS: personal to you because you are seen by a consultant in a matter of days, not months; personal to you because there is a right to be given X-ray results quickly and time to discuss your treatment; personal to you because we know that being unwell is not just a nine to five problem," Mr Brown said in his first speech at the conference as party leader and prime minister.

Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said he welcomed the announcement on screening and reductions in referral waiting times.

"These will have a significant impact on survival from cancer, and we are delighted that the government is responding to many of the calls we have been making in our Screening Matters campaign over the last few months," he said.

"We hope that these announcements are just a forerunner to a series of other plans that the government will soon announce as part of the Cancer Reform Strategy."

Mr Kumar added that "it is critical" the government also improves treatment for patients with less common cancers.

Joanne Rule, Cancerbackup chief executive, said of Mr Brown's decision: "It is vital that treatment for cancer is started as soon as possible to ensure the best chance of survival, which is why we welcome today's announcements to reduce cancer waiting times and particularly treat all breast cancer cases as urgent."

Other announcements made by Mr Brown include giving matrons the power to order additional cleaning to combat the healthcare-acquired infections MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

The prime minister also repeated his desire to alter the working hours of GPs to ensure they are more friendly to families and workers.
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