Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 01 February 2022
I thank my fellow Scottish Labour colleague, Jackie Baillie, for bringing her members’ business debate to the chamber. I could not be here today and not speak in it.
The theme of world cancer day 2022 is “close the care gap” and it is about understanding and recognising the inequalities in cancer care around the world. I am sure that members will agree that I am not shy about raising in the chamber the inequalities in prevention, care and access to treatments.
Health inequalities in Scotland and across the globe are very real. For many of the most marginalised in our society, the chances of getting cancer and the experience of the outcomes of cancer are worse because of factors and circumstances that are beyond their control. Acknowledging and dealing with the root causes that blight many of our communities is key to reducing cancer and cancer inequalities.
Across Scotland, we know that the most deprived populations have worse experiences and outcomes than those in the least deprived areas. Recently, of course, the Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on health inequalities and their devastating impacts. The pandemic has impacted our lives in so many ways, and one of the most concerning impacts has been the reduction in cancer diagnosis at an early stage. Staff shortages, pressures on the NHS and long GP waiting times are among a whole host of factors that have contributed to figures that Cancer Research UK recently called “devastating”. In Scotland, we have to act with purpose to reverse those concerning factors, resume early detection and give those who have cancer the best chance of life.
In the short time that I have in the chamber, I want to mention cervical cancer. Yesterday, I met a nurse from Kilmarnock who has many years of experience supporting women with health screening and family planning. She talked me through aspects of women’s health and factors that may hamper people from coming forward for screening. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and successfully treated forms of cancer if it is detected and diagnosed early and managed effectively. It is essential that we in this chamber battle to ensure that screening services are accessed and accessible. In my discussions last night with Nurse Kenyon, it was clear that encouraging women and explaining the procedures to them is important. If they understand their bodies and what is happening, they are more likely to attend. We should encourage everyone who meets the criteria for screening to ask questions. Our wonderful NHS staff are more than happy to walk people through what will be happening to them and the associated benefits.
Once again, I bring to members’ attention the health inequalities that underpin survival rates for cancer. According to Public Health Scotland, there are links between increasing deprivation and poorer survival rates for cancer, as we have heard in the debate. It is unjust and unfair that that remains the case in 2022. Much more work needs to be done to address the clear health, social and economic inequalities that mean that a person’s postcode can result in a stronger or weaker chance of survival from deadly diseases.
I know that everyone in the chamber wants to see improvements in the awareness of and outcomes for cancer. I thank members for their contributions and for their work. I thank Jackie Baillie again for bringing the debate to the chamber and I applaud world cancer day and the work of Cancer Research UK. I hope that we go on to work as hard as we can to eliminate cancer from society.
18:24