With just a week to go before the day of the General Election, all the main political parties have now launched their manifestos. In this post, we explore the Green Party, Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru, and Reform UK’s plans for the NHS and how they might affect people affected by brain tumours.
As a result of health being a devolved issue, it should be noted that Reform UK and the Green Party’s manifesto commitments apply to England. While Plaid Cymru and the SNP’s manifesto commitments apply to Wales and Scotland.
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How UK parties’ manifestos aim to improve brain tumour care
Improving diagnosis
Plaid Cymru has committed to a “stop Cancer Strategy” and has promised to “ensure no downgrading of urgent suspected cancer referrals”.
Meanwhile, the Green Party has made a commitment to push for rapid access to GP services and the need for same day appointments in case of urgent need.
One of Reform UK’s core healthcare commitments is to “save A&E by cutting waiting times” and have said they will achieve this by campaigning for a new policy of “Pharmacy First, GP Second, A&E Last”.
We know that increased investment in primary care services and improving capacity could help people being diagnosed with brain tumours. But we also know better awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours is necessary, along with GPs being able to directly refer people for an MRI or CT scan. We are glad to see these parties addressing the need to improve waiting times and look forward to seeing more details on how these policies would be achieved.
What are we calling for in a National Brain Tumour Strategy?
We want to see the development of a new optimal diagnostic pathway ensuring everyone receives a fast and efficient diagnosis of a brain tumour.
Personalised and holistic care
It is great to see all these parties recognise the ongoing workforce crisis within the NHS. Reform UK have committed to ensuring frontline NHS and social care staff pay zero basic rate tax for 3 years and say this will help retain existing staff and attract many who have left to return.
The SNP has committed to calling for the reversal of potential moves to stop care workers from overseas from being able to bring their families with them. The SNP say by going ahead with such plans it could prevent workers from coming to the UK to work for the NHS.
Plaid have pledged to provide more flexible contracts for nurses which they hope will improve working conditions and increase recruitment. Plaid will also look to invest in the workforce to recruit, train and keep more oncology staff.
Within the Green Party manifesto there is a commitment to “reducing the administrative burden on GPs” enabling them to have more time face to face with patients.
We know that staffing is key to all brain tumour patients receiving the personalised care they need, so these commitments are welcome. Having a fully staffed and effective workforce is crucial for people with brain tumours. The NHS workforce is essential to ensure people receive the best possible care throughout their journey.
What are we calling for in a National Brain Tumour Strategy?
We must ensure every brain tumour patient and their family has good access to wraparound support, meeting all of their collective needs.
Treatment times
On treatment times, Reform UK states that operating theatres must be open on weekends.
The Green Party commits to reducing hospital waiting lists by “giving Hospital Trusts clear, long-term, funding commitments”. The Scottish National Party has also pledged to invest £300m specifically to bring down waiting times.
We know that reducing waiting times has the potential to have a positive impact on how quickly people with a brain tumour can start treatment. And it is encouraging to see parties develop ideas for reducing treatment times though again, we will wait to see further details on how these policies can be achieved. We also need more action to ensure new and better treatments are quickly available on the NHS so people diagnosed with brain tumours can access them.
What are we calling for in a National Brain Tumour Strategy?
A National Brain Tumour Strategy is needed to get patients the treatments they need. To get to this point we want to see: Every brain tumour patient being offered the chance to participate in clinical trials.
Changing the research landscape
Plaid commit to increasing Government investment in Research and Development. They pledge to seek to “devolve Wales’s share of UK Research and Innovation expenditure and for a block grant to be allocated based on population”. By doing so, Plaid believe that Wales will be better placed to continue leading on internationally recognised research.
The Green Party manifesto notes how they would use information the NHS gathers as a public health service caring for most of the population, to deliver cancer treatment through publicly funded research.
We know that only 3.2% of the over £700 million invested in UK cancer research funding in 2019/20 was spent on brain tumours (this percent includes £6.6m of spending by The Brain Tumour Charity). Investment and research landscape reform are both needed to maximise our chances of discovering cures. This is why a National Brain Tumour Strategy is essential. It will guarantee we tackle the barriers faced by the brain tumour community holistically, not just issue by issue.
What are we calling for in a National Brain Tumour Strategy?
A National Brain Tumour Strategy can help support advancements in research. For the UK to continue being a life science hub, we want to see research into brain tumours recognised as a clinical priority alongside a strategic plan for adequately resourcing and funding for discovery, translational and clinical research.
We won’t allow the brain tumour community to be forgotten!
Whoever is elected as the next Government, we can’t – and won’t – allow the brain tumour community to be forgotten. We’ll work with the new Government to highlight the unmet needs of people affected by brain tumours and to develop a National Brain Tumour Strategy that:
- improves diagnosis times
- provides wraparound care for all
- advances kinder, more effective treatments
- pushes for innovations in research.
Download our General Election toolkit!
Our handy General Election 2024 toolkit can help you engage prospective candidates during this election period to make sure better brain tumour care and research is a No Brainer for the next Government.