Bolton West & Atherton MP Chris Green has backed a campaign by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, calling for better care for people recovering from a stem cell transplant.
Despite stem cell transplant patients often being known as ‘patients for life’ due to the long-term side-effects of the treatment, research by Anthony Nolan shows that one in five are not offered any specialist care to help with their recovery, including access to physiotherapists, counsellors, and fertility experts.
The charity is now calling on health commissioners across the UK to urgently review the care arrangements they have in place for transplant recipients once they leave hospital, to ensure that patients and their families can continue to access support.
National commissioners pay for any treatment needed by patients for the first 100 days after transplant. After this point, responsibility for funding services passes to local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). However, a Freedom of Information request by Anthony Nolan found that at present, fewer than one in ten CCGs have specific arrangements in place.
At an event in the House of Commons on Wednesday 11 October, Chris heard from patient representatives about how difficult recovery can be without appropriate support.
Chris said: “A number of my constituents have got in touch to bring this issue to my attention, so I know how important it is for people in Bolton West & Atherton that stem cell transplant patients and their families receive appropriate support.
“No patient’s recovery should be made more difficult by a lack of care and support, and that’s why I’m backing Anthony Nolan’s campaign, urging health commissioners to review the care arrangements they have in place once transplant patients leave hospital.”
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “It’s vital that health commissioners carry out an urgent review into the long-term care that stem cell transplant recipients need throughout their recovery, so we’re delighted to have the support of Chris in raising awareness of this issue in Parliament and in their constituency.
“Anthony Nolan is calling on health commissioners to work with us and the clinical community and make sure that post-transplant care works for every patient, to ensure they get the support they need to make a good recovery.”
To support the campaign, visit www.anthonynolan.org/whocares