Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed the publication of the Blood Cancer Action Plan (BCAP), a landmark report published by Blood Cancer UK that sheds light on the factors keeping UK blood cancer survival rates lagging behind.

From access to clinical trials, regional inequalities, and slow diagnosis – a taskforce of specialists, researchers, GPs and people living with blood cancer have laid out what action needs to be taken to improve survival rates.

The key messages from the charity are that despite advances in research and treatment, blood cancer survival in the UK is being overshadowed, because getting access to the best treatment and care depends on where you live, we have an under-resourced health service, and too many people do not understand what blood cancer is.

Martin Whitfield MSP said: 

“This is a really important report that sheds light on some of the key reasons why the UK is trailing behind on blood cancer and highlights some of the action that needs to be taken to address this problem. I welcome the report and hope it will help to drive improvements in the way blood cancer is treated.”

Find out more about the BCAP and the work of Blood Cancer UK here.