THANK YOU... FOR BACKING CANCER CARE CALL

Wes Streeting 'listens' to our campaign for better mental health support for sufferers

- BY ROBERT FISK

CANCER patients will get personalised plans to help them cope with the psychological toll of their diagnosis, in a major victory for the Express's Cancer Care campaign.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting himself a kidney cancer survivor called the change “the biggest shift in how we support cancer patients in a generation”.

He revealed he and the NHS “listened” to this newspaper’s plea for better mental help for patients facing devastating diagnoses.

The Express crusade has been led by me. I am an Express reporter with incurable stage-four bowel cancer.I “allowed myself a scream of joy” as the major new initiative was announced.

Mr Streeting heaped praise on this newspaper, adding: “The Express campaign led by Robert Fisk has highlighted the mental health challenges many cancer patients face, and the need to ensure they are supported in all areas of life.

“We listened, and the NHS will now provide a personalised cancer plan for every patient, including mental health support for every patient who is struggling.

“Care doesn’t stop when treatment ends.”

The Health Secretary unveiled Labour’s National Cancer Plan on Tuesday, covering all aspects of a patient’s journey including physical, mental and social needs.