Izzy in the campaigns team looks back over our General Election campaign and impact it has had on the future of health and social care.
Our General Election campaign has come to an end, and what a success it has been. Thanks to your support, all of the main political parties in England made broad manifesto commitments to improving health and social care. Together we have brought about the foundations to provide real change for people affected by cancer.
But we know that, by 2030, four million of us in the UK will be living with cancer and the demand for sufficient cancer care increases by the day. So we wanted to let you know that although this campaign has come to an end, we’re still working to make sure the Government deliver on their promises.
What we asked for...
In the lead up to the general election, Macmillan asked candidates to commit to improving cancer care for all. We called for:
What we did...
We asked you to contact MP’s, and let them know your concerns and issues surrounding cancer care. This was done via coffee mornings, local events, and approaching parliamentary candidates directly through hustings, emails and letters. Your actions brought the voices of people affected by cancer to the heart of the election and kept cancer on top of the political agenda.
Best Moments...
Macmillan’s Cake with Candidates events proved a huge success, bringing a range of people together to raise awareness of the changes we were pursuing. We met with people affected by cancer, political candidates, and healthcare professionals. It was a great opportunity to meet candidates face to face to tell them why our calls were so important.
The Impact...
Manifesto pledges were made from all major parties to improve health and social care. Together we have brought about the opportunity to make real change for people affected by cancer.
Last month, recommendations for a new five-year cancer strategy for England were announced. This is thanks to the hard work of Macmillan’s campaigners in making cancer a prominent feature of the election. This five-year strategy will help improve survival rates and the experiences of people affected by cancer. Macmillan is working to ensure that the strategy best supports people affected by cancer, particularly during and after treatment.
Thank you again for all your support in all our campaigns. We’ll be continuing to work to make sure these election promises are kept! Keep an eye out on our website for campaign updates at www.macmillan.org.uk/campaigns
