North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has shown his support for NHS workers in Wales who diagnose, treat and care for people affected by cancer at a Cancer Research UK event in Cardiff Bay.
The event marked the 70th birthday of the NHS and the contribution made by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals across cancer. Cancer Research UK used the event to call for everyone to stand with the NHS and highlight the importance of staff to diagnose and treat cancer.
Every year, over 19,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales and as the population grows and ages, that number is only set to rise.
Speaking after the event, Mr Isherwood said: “After the past 70 years of fantastic work from the NHS, it is important to thank the men and women involved in cancer care.
“Many of us have been affected by cancer in some way, and 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed in our lifetimes.
“We all want a world-class service where people are given every opportunity to survive this devastating disease, for it to be diagnosed early and for patients to receive the best treatment possible.
“That’s why I’m backing Cancer Research UK’s call to stand shoulder to shoulder with the NHS against cancer.”
Andy Glyde, public affairs manager for Wales at Cancer Research UK, said: “We are grateful to Mark for showing his support at our event. The NHS has been central to improvements in cancer survival over the years.
“By 2034, our ambition is for 3 in 4 people to survive their cancer, but advances in technology and treatment mean nothing if we don’t have the NHS staff to deliver them.
“That’s why the support of AM’s like Mark is so vitally important to help make Wales’ cancer services the best in the world.”
For more information visit cruk.org/shouldertoshoulder or join the conversation on twitter #ShouldertoShoulder and #YsgwyddWrthYsgwydd.