What the Queen’s Speech Means for Macmillan
On 11th May 2021, the Queen opened a new session of Parliament by outlining the Government’s priorities for the coming year. The Queen’s Speech included around 30 laws that ministers plan to pass, including the Health and Care Bill and the Charities Bill, as well as legislation on education, constitutional reform, and security. So, what does this all mean for Macmillan and people living with cancer?
Well, broadly, Macmillan welcomes the announcements made. The focus on investing in the NHS to recover services disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic is really positive, as is the commitment to build back better. However, significant long-term investment in the cancer workforce will be needed to achieve these aims and Macmillan will be pressing the Government for this over the course of the year.
Macmillan also works to ensure the benefits system works for people living with cancer, so we also be keeping a close eye on the development of the Green Paper on Disability Benefits which was briefly mentioned.
Addressing the backlog
The pandemic has caused significant disruption to the cancer system, despite the efforts of incredibly hard-working NHS staff. Macmillan’s latest figures show that the current backlog in people receiving their first treatment for cancer stands at 39,000. With fewer people currently being diagnosed, we are seriously concerned that this will result in a later stage diagnosis, which sadly may have a very real impact on people’s prognosis and outlook. Macmillan welcomes the Government’s recognition in the speech of these challenges facing the NHS, and their focus on addressing the backlog and finding those ‘missing’ diagnoses.
Building back better
It is essential that we not only recover services and bring more people into the system, but that we also ensure this system is equipped to offer the highest quality services to people living with cancer.
The upcoming Health and Care Bill will make Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) statutory care bodies, which means they can take more strategic responsibility. This move towards empowering local health and care services to improve their local populations’ health is a positive step, which may mean these services are better connected for people with cancer. However, Macmillan is waiting to see what the role of people with lived experience and of voluntary sector organisations will be. It is key that these groups also have a strong voice in the development of the Bill, to ensure it truly meets the needs of people living with cancer.
Workforce- the key to improving cancer care?
Addressing the backlog and building back better are certainly priorities for both Macmillan and the Government, but, neither aim will be possible without significant, long-term investment in the specialist cancer workforce. It is welcome that the Health and Care Bill includes a new duty on workforce planning. But without a long-term funding settlement, this simply won’t be enough, given the scale of the challenge that the workforce is facing.
Before the pandemic, there were 2,500 fewer specialist cancer nurses than required to deliver basic cancer care, but this shortage has been exacerbated by the pandemic, due to significant levels of burnout. This comes at a time when a fully resourced and energised workforce is more needed than ever, as Macmillan estimates that it will take 15 months of working at 110% of pre-pandemic levels to clear the backlog. To achieve this, it is critical that the Autumn Spending Review sets of a comprehensive multi-year spending review for the NHS Workforce.
Last but never least: the financial impact of cancer
Did you know that the average person is a huge £570 worse-off a month after a cancer diagnosis? This is due to a double strain on finances: whilst 75% of people who receive a cancer diagnosis experience a loss of income, 90% experience additional costs related to their condition, such as the costs of travelling to appointments, purchasing wigs, or covering higher heating bills if you are at home and feeling the cold more.
This is why the Government must consider the financial needs of people living with cancer and whether they can get the support they desperately need from the social security system. Currently, claiming benefits can be stressful and confusing, and the process often does not meet the specific needs of people living with cancer, at a time in their life when they already have more than enough to cope with. The Green Paper on Disability Benefits, mentioned in the Government’s Queen Speech background documents, is a clear opportunity for the Government to address these issues to ensure the benefits system works for everyone.
The final word
The Queen’s speech provides many welcome indications of the Government’s focus on addressing the cancer backlog and improving services for people living with cancer. However, there are some areas where more clarification is required, especially around long-term investment in the workforce and the future of the benefits system. Macmillan looks forward to working with the Government on these aspects, to deliver the best possible care and support for all people living with cancer.
Tatiana Sherwood is a Graduate in the Advocacy and Chief Executive Teams at Macmillan Cancer Support. You can find out more about Macmillan’s work in parliament here.
