An important cause I was pleased to support last year was the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign.

This initiative was set up after a 58 year old woman was forced out of her job following diagnosis of terminal breast cancer. Such action is shocking and I’m grateful to the TUC for representing workers’ rights by highlighting such behaviour.

Last month in Parliament I met the Dying to Work campaign to sign their charter, which now protects over half a million employees in organisations such as Royal Mail, Rolls Royce and the Co-Op, as well as public sector bodies including NHS trusts and local authorities.

It’s shocking to think that if people with terminal illnesses are dismissed or forced out of their jobs, their loved ones will lose the death in service payments that the employee has planned for and earned through their hard work. I’m pleased to have supported the Dying to Work charter and I urge all employers in Crawley to sign up to this voluntary initiative.

The charter has the backing of a number of trade bodies and charities including those providing support for cancer patients and their families.

It’s my privilege to chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Blood Cancer. As part of our inquiry on NHS blood cancer care I led two evidence sessions last year. In these sessions the salience of those charities who assist patients and their support networks was clear.

In many cases the support goes far beyond medical and care needs, and extends to issues such as resolving administrative matters and helping ensure personal finances are in order, to allow more focus to be given to making a recovery.

We can all do our bit to support individuals and families coping with a terminal illness as we start the New Year.

Henry Smith MP