Rhondda Breast Friends (RBF) welcomed the National Cancer Standards 2005 which was thought to be the key to developing and delivering the provision of world class cancer services in Wales by March 2009.

However, listening to local peoples’ experiences of cancer, some services were still badly co-ordinated with patients needs often overlooked and their voices not heard. A Community Cancer Conference was held in Rhondda to empower people affected by any type of cancer to have their say in how services could be improved. The result was a statement of local needs, a Charter of Rights for people with cancer, put together by people affected by cancer.

Many of The Charter points were covered by The Cancer Standards or NICE guidelines but these clearly were not seen as being complied with. An investigation showed that there was no local cancer strategy or action plan to implement national standards and guidelines in the Rhondda Cynon Taff Local Health Board Area by next March. Our fears are that RCT may not be alone in this.

“Designed for Life “(2005) and “Designed to Tackle Cancer” (2006) stated that all cancer services would comply with the 2005 National Cancer Standards by March 2009. This would go a long way to relieving the suffering of people who have been promised and deserve the best cancer treatment in the world.

Cancer sufferers while protected under the Disability Equality Acts appear to have little equality locally with chronic conditions, cardiac and stroke rehabilitation, mental health, diabetes, alcohol abuse, etc. which have been prioritised with local partnerships, strategies and Champions. In fact they appear to be totally disadvantaged and ignored. This is a huge number of the population who are particularly vulnerable after suffering the trauma of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Achievement of the Cancer Standards are thus vital and must resolve this horrendous situation of neglect by raising the profile of cancer at a local level with attending service improvements and the long awaited patient-centred care.

This is the background against which our petition has been submitted