Matthew  attended an event in Parliament this week as part of his commitment to help reduce diagnosis delays for people with blood cancer.

He heard from nurses, doctors and a Hendon constituent (pictured) at the reception organised by the blood cancer charity Bloodwise at the House of Lords. 

NHS figures show people with blood cancer are more likely to visit their GP multiple times before being diagnosed than for any other cancer. Blood cancer patients who are diagnosed late are at greater risk of dying sooner and may have fewer treatment options. Delays to treatment can also result in kidney failure, broken bones and paralysis in some types of blood cancer.

A public petition launched by Bloodwise calling for the Government to ‘End the Delays’ has now reached over 10,000 signatures. The charity also launched a report into the issue last year.

Matthew Offord MP said: “It was very moving to hear from people with blood cancer, including one of my own constituents. Many delays can be avoided and its vital that blood cancer is included in the Government’s plans to diagnose cancer earlier.”

Phil Reynolds, Policy Manager at Bloodwise, said: “It’s fantastic to have Matthew Offord MP’s support for the campaign. There is a clear need for more support to help GPs identify possible cases, know how to interpret often-complex test results and ensure patients with unexplained symptoms do not slip through the net.”