Event in UK Parliament raises awareness of ideal patient care pathway for neuroendocrine cancer

19 June 2023

On 14 June 2023, The Health Policy Partnership co-hosted an event with Neuroendocrine Cancer UK at the UK Parliament, where we shared the ideal patient care pathway for neuroendocrine cancer with MPs. Our aims were to raise awareness of neuroendocrine cancer and to encourage MPs to commit to supporting people living with this condition.

The event, opened by Justin Madders MP, brought together MPs and people with direct experience of neuroendocrine cancer.

Catherine Bouvier Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, provided an overview of neuroendocrine cancer, including the current treatment options and the challenges people living with the disease typically face. This was followed by a personal story, with actor Olivia Williams sharing her experience of getting diagnosed and living with the condition. Consultant Endocrinologist and UKINETS Education and Training Committee Chair Dr Alia Munir then detailed how establishing a standard care pathway for neuroendocrine cancer could benefit everyone living with the condition while still supporting the NHS’s current ambitions and practices. The presentations concluded with a call to action from Catherine Bouvier Ellis, encouraging MPs to support the implementation of the care pathway.

These talks generated a number of meaningful conversations among attendees. Patient advocates took advantage of the opportunity to share their experiences with MPs and stress why barriers to diagnosis must be overcome. In turn, MPs were able to ask questions about the condition and learn what specific actions they can take to provide support.

Having a dedicated care pathway will be a huge step in the right direction for people with neuroendocrine cancer in England. For too long, the people we support have not been prioritised, but this pathway can be easily implemented by the NHS to streamline the journey from suspicion of cancer through to follow-up care.

Catherine Bouvier Ellis, CEO and co-founder, Neuroendocrine Cancer UK

Throughout the event, MPs were able to prompt change by signing a pledge to support people with neuroendocrine cancer and push for the implementation of the ideal care pathway in their constituencies. A total of 11 MPs pledged their support:

  • Paula Barker, MP for Liverpool Wavertree
  • Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central
  • Patrick Grady, MP for Glasgow North
  • Kate Hollern, MP for Blackburn
  • Rachel Hopkins, MP for Luton South
  • Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston
  • Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central
  • Marie Rimmer CBE, MP for St Helens and Whiston
  • Greg Smith, MP for Buckingham
  • Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South
  • Mark Tami, MP for Alyn and Deeside

Supporting Neuroendocrine Cancer UK’s engagement with MPs was a crucial step in ensuring that care reaches the people who need it most. We look forward to seeing the implementation of the care pathway, which we hope will lead to a higher quality of life and better outcomes for people with the condition.

Download the care pathway

Find out more about the work done to develop the care pathway on the project page.

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