(l-r) Professor Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership; football legend Bryan Robson OBE; and Robin Swann, MP and former Minister of Health for Northern Ireland highlighting the need to avoid another “decade of delays.

Professor Lawler joined over 40 cancer charities, patients, and clinicians; and Radiotherapy UK patron, football legend and former England captain Bryan Robson OBE, at the Houses of Parliament to call for urgent action, meeting with over 100 MPs in a special session to highlight their concerns.  

The campaign comes as reports have indicated that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has said the Government cannot commit to meeting cancer targets by the end of the Parliament. 

New analysis published in The Lancet Oncology and co-led by Professor Lawler shows that a decade of delays has left more than 500,000 cancer patients waiting too long for treatment and the Government’s most critical cancer treatment target – the 62-day target from referral to first treatment – has not been met in nearly a decade.  

(l-r) Sarah Quinlan, Charity Director at Radiotherapy UK; Professor Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership; football legend Bryan Robson OBE; Professor Pat Price, Chair of Radiotherapy UK; and Denise Robson delivering the petition at 10 Downing Street

Lead Author of the research, Professor Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, said: “The data do not lie – we’re lagging behind significantly in our efforts to beat cancer. We need the political will behind a supercharged cancer plan to save thousands of lives. Fifteen years ago, Denmark lagged behind on cancer, as we are now, but an ambitious cancer strategy turned it around. We need to do a Denmark. 

“Research that we have performed from around the world demonstrates that a cancer plan grounded in intelligence and action, rather than ill-informed opinion saves lives. We are delighted that the data intelligence that we generated seems to have been critical in Secretary of State, Wes Streeting reversing the previous administration’s decision and reinstating a national plan.  

“But we need to act quickly. We won’t wait; cancer patients can’t wait. We want to be leaders not laggers. Let’s be big and bold and brave and deliver an effective national cancer plan we can all be proud of.” 

Co-Author on the research and Chair of Radiotherapy UK, Professor  Pat Price, said: “After nearly a decade of deadly delays and systemic failure to treat cancer patients on time, this World Cancer Day must be the turning point. The next ten years must be a decade of decisive action, ensuring every patient gets the timely care they deserve.

“While the Government has promised to develop a National Cancer Control Plan – something I strongly support – this plan must be big, brave and bold. We can no longer afford to tinker around the edges, and we certainly can’t spend more time developing consultations and calling for ideas. The time to act is now. Any further delay means more patients falling through the cracks and unnecessarily succumbing to this horrific disease. We cannot accept another decade of delays.” 

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Media inquiries to Sian Devlin at s.devlin@qub.ac.uk