Fantastic news! Our petition to the National Assembly on Cancer Standards had its 5^th reading on Nov 24. Some petitions don’t even get a reading and here we are on our 5^th. It is shows that the Assembly believe cancer standards are really important.  

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Health and Social Services asking for details of the findings of the Cancer Services Co-ordinating Group all-Wales summary report with regard to assessing compliance with the National Cancer Standards.  The transcript of the meeting is available at: http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees-other-committees/bus-committees-third-pc-home/bus-committees-third-pc-agendas.htm?act=dis&id=154958&ds=11/2009, and the webcast of the meeting is available at: http://www.senedd.tv/schedulelastweek.jsf. Once the Committee receive a response from the Minister, it will consider the petition further, and will inform RBF once this happens and will send a copy of the letter. Watch this space and we'll keep you informed.

Rhondda Breast Friends (RBF) launched their Charter of Rights on 26th April 08 and collected over 1,500 signatures supporting their call for improved cancer services and implementation of the Cancer Standards. This was the basis for a petition to the Welsh Assembly asking them to ensure that Cancer Standards would be implemented across Rhondda Cynon Taff and the rest of Wales as a matter of urgency.

Progress to date:

• 6.10.08 The Petitions committee wrote to the Health Minister. She responded that all LHBs had action plans in place and progress was being carefully monitored.
• 2.12.08 RBF’s response expressed disappointment that although places on Cwm Taff’s Strategy Group had now been allocated to the Cancer Focus Group, it had not met, their Cancer Plan to implement Cancer Standards still had not been provided and no consultation had taken place. Their Cancer Focus Group had shown shortfalls in patient and carer information and support that was needed to meet the promised standards.
• 22.1.09 Rhondda Cynon Taff LHB ‘s response was to provide their cancer delivery plan and update of progress to date.
• 10.2.09 The Petitions Committee agreed to ask the Minister for Health and Social Services to update the Committee on whether local health boards have met the national cancer standards, once the deadline for meeting these standards has passed, and also to inform the Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee of RBF’s petition…

…….WATCH THIS SPACE!

 
On 25th June 2008, we took our concerns regarding cancer services to the Welsh Assembly. The picture shows Val Lloyd AM, Chairman of the Petitions Committee in the Senedd, receiving the petition from RBF members and supporters, together with our Charter and 1546 signatures.
 
 
Petition to the National Assembly of Wales
We ask the National Assembly of Wales to:
 
Investigate whether Local Health Boards have the necessary strategies and action plans in place to deliver the target to comply with the National Cancer Standards by March 2009 in RCT and throughout Wales, as a matter of urgency.

• Supporting Statement

RBF launched their Charter of Rights on 26th April 08 and collected 1,546 signatures for a petition supporting the Charter.

Download the Charter of Rights here (.pdf 120KB)

Rhondda Breast Friends Community Cancer Conference was held in October 2007 to give people affected by cancer a "voice". It appeared that local healthcare providers were not listening to what people affected by cancer had to say. the conference was opened up to people affected by all types of cancer and aimed to use the voice of patients and carers to raise awareness of issues affecting them and to work with the healthcare providers to improve services and implement the cancer standards 2005. It was well attended by over 80 people who shared experiences and explored how services could be improved.
The workshop topics included:

• Prioritising cancer
• Treating the person not the disease
• Empowerment
• Support organisations

 
Key issues of concern identified were:

• the lack of co-ordination
• the need for specialist drop in centres
• improved communication, information, and environment
• recognition for the support role played by cancer support organisations.

 
The results from the conference formed the basis our  "Charter of Rights" dedicated to all people who have experienced the devastation of cancer.