In my column two weeks ago, I wrote that I would update Crawley Observer readers about the progress of the new parliamentary group on blood cancer that I am chairing.

Less than a month after the inaugural meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Blood Cancer, I was delighted that we managed to secure a debate in Westminster Hall on Blood Cancer and the Cancer Drugs Fund.

This debate took place last week, and I was pleased to see MPs from a range of parties represented: Conservative, Labour, Scottish National Party, and Democratic Unionist Party.

A couple of hours before the debate was due to start, I received news that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) had approved the chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) drug, bosutinib.

This is good news for patients, and hopefully this will not be the last such approval in the weeks and months to come.

Blood cancer is the third biggest cancer killer, and is made up of more than 130 different diseases, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

While changes to the Cancer Drugs Fund have led to some uncertainty for cancer patients, their families and their support networks, the Fund will now ensure a maximum of two years of interim funding for a drug if NICE believe that further clinical data is needed before a final decision can be made on the drug’s future.

A concern of mine – and one which I put to the Health Minister during last week’s debate – is that this time is insufficient to secure the data needed to make a final decision. This is a particular concern for some of the blood cancer drugs due to be reviewed by NICE.

In terms of the progress of the Parliamentary Group, I was pleased to see that a number of our members took part in last week’s debate.

My colleagues and I will continue to plan over the summer (contrary to some belief, Members of Parliament have plenty to do while the House of Commons is in recess – but just not in Westminster) ahead of a formal launch later in the year.

For more information on this group, please visit: www.henrysmith.info/campaigns/blood-cancer