Chloe SmithMP for Norwich North
Chloe SmithChloe Smith has today commented on new statistics that plot the cancer survival statistics by Primary Care Trust from 1996- 2006.
Chloe, who has recently run the Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research, has found that Norfolk Primary Care trust has, between 1996 and 2006, increased its one year survival rate from 62.1% to 64.4%.
However, recent statistics acquired by Chloe have shown that this is not the case for all cancers. Indeed, Norwich is within the bottom 20 local authorities in terms of death rates for the ovarian cancer in England, with roughly 12 deaths per year in the Norwich area.
Chloe Smith has since written to Norfolk PCT about this and has received assurances that the PCT is currently participating in an audit coordinated by the Anglia Cancer Network. Once reviewed, NHS Norfolk tells Chloe they may focus on findings related to ovarian cancer.
Commenting on the statistics Chloe said:
"It is obviously good news that the one year survival rate for all cancers within Norfolk has increased. However, we must keep pushing for further developments in this area. It is a terrible disease that affects one in three people directly and many people's lives have been affected by it in one way or another.
"I am also satisfied that Norfolk PCT may take further action to improve awareness and early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Low survival rates for ovarian cancer are not only a problem nationally with the lowest survival rate in Europe, but in Norwich where death rates are 46% above the rest of the East of England and English rates. It is obvious that action must be taken.
"Overall, the Government has recently pledged that from October an extra £50 million will be made available to help patients get access to innovative new cancer drugs. Doctors will be put in charge of deciding how the funding is spent for their patients locally based on the advice of cancer specialists. This will be another crucial step in the fight against cancer."