Praise for 'amazing' cancer centre

Taunton and Wellington MP, Gideon Amos, marked World Cancer Day by congratulating staff and volunteers at Musgrove Park Hospital’s Beacon Centre on their “amazing work.”

He is also calling on the government to boost cancer services so that more patients are seen within the national 62-day target for receiving treatment.

Gideon has written to the Beacon Centre, which provides specialised cancer care for patients and their loved ones.

He said a recent BBC Somerset interview with the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, had sparked “a social media outpouring of well-deserved support and thanks for the amazing work carried out by staff and volunteers.

“Your work is truly valued and appreciated by all of us here in Taunton and Wellington, as well as by many others across the county.

“I also have personal reason to be thankful for the service you provide. The rapid intervention and support my own family received meant so much to us.

“I therefore wanted to write to you on World Cancer Day, to add my own personal congratulations and thanks to the many already expressed for the work you do.

“I, alongside the Liberal Democrats, am calling for increased government support and funding to establish a Cancer Guarantee, ensuring that patients start treatment within 62 days.

“This would be delivered through new radiotherapy centres, 200 additional staffed radiotherapy machines, and more than 3,000 extra cancer nurses across the country.

“Your role within our community is incredibly important. Please do keep in touch and let me know if there is any way I can offer support.”