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Neuroblastoma Treatment
15 June 2023
Lead MP
Peter Gibson
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
NHS
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Peter Gibson raised concerns about neuroblastoma treatment in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
MP Peter Gibson secured the debate to raise awareness of neuroblastoma, focusing on his constituent Mark Bell's son Luke who passed away from this cancer. He shared Luke’s story and how it led to the establishment of the Team Luke Foundation. The speech highlighted the difficulties faced by families during diagnosis, emphasising that early detection is crucial for better outcomes in treating neuroblastoma. Gibson also listed signs parents should be aware of when suspecting childhood cancer and urged the Minister to work with him on speeding up diagnosis and research into treatments.
Will Quince
Con
St Helens North
Expressed condolences for Luke’s family and praised Mark Bell and his wife Rebecca for founding the Team Luke Foundation to raise awareness of neuroblastoma.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the importance of the debate and sent her condolences to Luke's family. She highlighted the Government’s commitment to speed up cancer diagnosis, increase treatment effectiveness using new technologies, and invest in research. The NHS is expanding direct access to diagnostic scans for GPs to reduce waiting times and improve early detection rates. Funding has been committed to support groundbreaking research on neuroblastoma, including an award of £519,000 from the Wellcome Trust for image-guided surgery research at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The Minister also discussed ongoing discussions regarding bivalent vaccine trials for children in remission with neuroblastoma. She reaffirmed that tackling neuroblastoma is a top priority and responded positively to all of Peter Gibson's questions.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.