Last year I set up and was elected to chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Blood Cancer.

Blood cancer is the UK’s third biggest cancer killer, and claims more lives each year than breast or prostate cancer. It is also the fifth most common cancer, with almost 38,000 people diagnosed every year and over 230,000 people living with blood cancer in the UK.

The role of the APPG is to raise awareness and promote needs of blood cancer patients in Parliament, with the Government, NHS, and charity stakeholders, and to ensure policies affecting blood cancer patients, their families and carers are patient-centred and evidence-based.

We recently held our first public meeting, which included moving presentations from clinicians and patients. The speakers were chosen specifically in recognition of the importance of listening to patients when formulating health policy.

I was also pleased to welcome the Community Health & Care Minister, David Mowat MP, who addressed the Group and showed a keen willingness to work with us going forward.

Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency