Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and Leukaemia Care’s #WatchWaitWorry campaign.

I sympathise profoundly with anyone who is affected by cancer. People living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) face a unique set of challenges, as this type of cancer progresses slowly and patients may not need to begin treatment immediately.

Depending on the stage at which CLL is diagnosed, patients may be placed on ‘watch and wait’ (or ‘active monitoring’), often over many years, to see if the cancer has progressed to a point where treatment needs to begin. I recognise that this places a huge psychological toll on patients and families, especially when our perception of cancer is that it needs urgent attention and treatment.

Leukaemia Care’s #WatchWaitWorry campaign raises concerns that many CLL patients on ‘watch and wait’ are not receiving accessible written information about the active monitoring process. In some cases patients are not receiving enough healthcare support, and many have had appointments cancelled, with delays exacerbating the emotional challenges of living with CLL.

I urge the Government to respond to Leukaemia Care’s ‘Left to #WatchWaitWorry’ report and set out the actions it will take to ensure patients receive appropriate resources in a timely fashion, to help them better understand their condition and the treatment process. Health professionals must be supported to ensure patients are better informed and feel more involved in their care. I commend charities such as Leukaemia Care and CLL Support who offer a range of support for patients online, via telephone and in-person.

CLL patients need firm action from the Government to ensure health services meet their particular needs. As we recover from the pandemic, we must also ensure cancer is a clinical priority. Even predating COVID-19, waiting lists were rising and cancer targets were repeatedly missed. I remain concerned that years of underfunding and mismanagement weakened our health service and left it exposed as COVID-19 hit.

I urge Ministers to urgently address NHS backlogs, bring down waiting lists and improve cancer pathways. This must include a plan to recruit and strengthen the NHS workforce. It is vital that our health service can provide timely diagnosis and referral, and effective care and treatment for all who need it.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.

Yours Sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP