Crawley MP given 'Parliamentary Champion' award by blood cancer charity

Mr Smith was given the award during at an event held at The House of Lords where he was honoured by the charity in its 2020 Bloodwise Supporter Awards for his continued advocacy in the House of Commons for people with blood cancer.

Mr Smith is the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Blood Cancer and heard from nurses, doctors and patients at the reception organised by the blood cancer charity Bloodwise.

NHS figures show people with blood cancer are more likely to visit their GP multiple times before being diagnosed than for any other cancer.

Blood cancer patients who are diagnosed late are at greater risk of dying sooner and may have fewer treatment options. Delays to treatment can also result in kidney failure, broken bones and paralysis in some types of blood cancer.

A public petition launched by Bloodwise calling for the Government to ‘End the Delays’ has now reached more than 10,000 signatures. The charity also launched a report into the issue last year.

At the event, Mr Smith, said: “It was very moving to hear from people with blood cancer and their family members about their experience of diagnosis delays. Many delays can be avoided and it’s vital that blood cancer is included in the Government’s plans to diagnose cancer earlier.

“It’s an honour to be named Parliamentary Champion in Bloodwise’s Supporter Awards. I’ve been struck by the charity’s dedicated support for blood cancer patients and their support networks and our work on the Blood Cancer APPG will continue to ensure blood cancer remains very much on the political agenda.”

Phil Reynolds, policy manager at Bloodwise, said: “It’s fantastic to have Henry Smith MP’s support for the campaign. There is a clear need for more support to help GPs identify possible cases, know how to interpret often-complex test results and ensure patients with unexplained symptoms do not slip through the net.”

Bloodwise, which is changing its name to Blood Cancer UK, is calling for the new Government to commit to improving diagnosis of blood cancer by giving GPs the support they need to identify symptoms that could be red flags, which can include unexplained bruising, bleeding, night sweats, fatigue and weight loss.

To sign the ‘End the Delays’ petition at bloodwise.eaction.org.uk/endthedelays. Information about blood cancer symptoms is available at Bloodwise.org.uk and by calling 0808 2080 888.