Regardless of background, we will all need the NHS at some point in our lives. It is right that yesterday’s (Wednesday, 23rd October) Queen’s Speech debate in Parliament was dedicated to this public service.

I welcome the Government’s additional £33.9 billion of funding support for our health service. In recent years we have seen health provision return to Crawley, but there remains more to do.

On issues such as GP access, I call on the Government to address waiting times, as the Prime Minister pledged on the steps of Downing Street almost 100 days ago.

It is right that mental health is being treated on a par with physical health, and I am pleased that schools in Crawley will be part of a pilot initiative where new specialist Mental Health Support Teams will work alongside school counsellors and provide one-to-one support to pupils.

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Blood Cancer, it is right that the Government are committed to making sure that 75 per cent of cancers are diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 by 2028.

Blood cancer is, of course, different to solid tumour cancers, and is much more difficult to detect. I will continue my call for the Department of Health & Social Care and the NHS to consider blood cancer patients when taking action to tackle the scourge of cancer.

Last week I welcomed Bloodwise to Parliament for the launch of the charity’s ‘Delays Expected’ report. Delays to diagnosis can have a huge impact on mental health, treatment options and chances of survival; it is vital that urgent action is taken to help save lives.

The research highlights NHS data that shows three in 10 people with blood cancer are only diagnosed when their symptoms need emergency treatment. By backing our GPs we can improve patient outcomes.

Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency

House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
[email protected]
www.henrysmith.info