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Number 284582 |
On 1st November 2010 the following was published calling for skin cancer to be prioritised in NHS reforms.
I am delighted to be able to send you a copy of the '2015 Skin Cancer Visions' report as Chair of the Melanoma Taskforce. The Taskforce is a group of skin cancer experts brought together to make recommendations for improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
I have campaigned for years to bring about tougher regulations on sunbed use. Julie Morgan's successful Private Members Bill will ban sunbed use for under 18s from April 2011. This just one of the steps necessary to prevent more young people putting themselves at risk of developing skin cancer. It is vitally important that skin cancer continues to be a healthcare priority during a period of unprecedented reform in the NHS and that is why I have brought together the Melanoma Taskforce. With the number of cases of melanoma in the UK set to continue rising, it is important that we develop strategies that not only reduce the risk for future generations, but also ensure the best treatment and care for those who have already developed the disease.
Melanoma Taskforce Recommendations
Our '2015 Skin Cancer Visions' report makes 20 recommendations for actions that will help change people's behaviour towards sun protection, ensure quicker diagnosis for patients who have developed skin cancers and improve the treatment and care they receive at all stages of the disease. Headline recommendations include:
* Public awareness campaigns on the dangers of overexposure to the sun and the importance of early detection of skin cancer should be more targeted on the most susceptible groups.
* Better training for GPs and information for pharmacists, hairdressers, physiotherapists, swimming instructors and others who come into contact with people's skin, on how to spot the signs of skin cancer.
* Further regulations on sunbed use to ensure all salons are supervised and that all adult users of sunbeds are provided with health information warnings about the dangers of sunbed exposure.
* Prioritise the development of a Quality Standard for melanoma; standards that will mandate innovation in skin cancer service design, incentivise the best use of clinical expertise and drive improvements in patient outcomes throughout the patient pathway.
Rising incidence of melanoma
* The number of people diagnosed with melanoma has risen four fold in the last 40 years.
* In 2008, more than 10,600 people in the UK were diagnosed with the disease and it is now the second most common cancer in young adults, aged between 15 and 34.
* In 2008, over 2000 people in the UK died from melanoma and there is evidence that this figure will continue to rise as young people who have experienced sun damage through over-exposure to the sun and sunbeds have an increased chance of developing skin cancer later on in life.
Members of the Taskforce
The Taskforce includes patient group and charity representatives (including Cancer Research UK, The Teenage Cancer Trust, SKCIN, Factor 50 and the Skin Care Campaign) GPs, skin cancer nurses, dermatologists, oncologists and surgeons, as well as representatives from the National Cancer Action Team and the National Cancer Intelligence Network.
Next Steps
The Taskforce has made submissions to the Department of Health consultations on the Cancer Reform Strategy and the NHS White Paper and will continue to work with the Department to ensure that forthcoming NHS reforms include measures to improve patient outcomes in melanoma. For further information about the work of the Taskforce and the recommendations in our report please contact Louise Abbott on 0207 824 1868.
Yours sincerely
Sian James MP (Swansea East)
Chair, Melanoma Taskforce