Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on the launch of an independent task force to help produce a cancer strategy for the NHS said:

“We welcome the launch of this independent task force to help produce a cancer strategy for the NHS.

“The last Labour government made huge progress on improving cancer care, but sadly, that progress has stalled in recent years.

“Growing numbers of patients are waiting too long to get tested for cancer and the NHS has repeatedly missed the target for treatment too. When it comes to cancer, speed is everything and patients are being badly let down.

“That is why Labour will guarantee a maximum one-week wait for cancer tests and create a new Cancer Treatments Fund to improve access to drugs, radiotherapy and surgery.”