Burstow pledges support to end travel costs for cancer patients

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Jul 2005

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, this week pledges his support for 'A Better Deal' to end the crippling costs faced by cancer patients in order to access vital NHS treatment.

The campaign, run by Macmillan Cancer Relief, highlights the huge financial costs for cancer patients travelling to, and parking at, hospital for often life-saving treatment - such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy - which is now most often delivered on a day patient basis. Paul Burstow pledged his support to end burdensome travel costs for cancer patients.

Paul Burstow MP said:

"I am horrified that cancer patients are paying out hundreds of pounds to pay for hospital travel and that the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme which is meant to help is not advertised to patients or sufficiently wide reaching to help all those that need it."

Peter Cardy, Chief Executive, Macmillan Cancer Relief, added:

"It is outrageous that cancer patients should have the added stress of trying to find the money to travel for their life-saving treatment, as if having cancer isn't stressful enough. That's why Macmillan is calling on the Government to allow all cancer patients to get help with travel costs. We're grateful for Paul Burstow's support in ensuring a better deal for cancer patients."

People affected by cancer can get more information about the financial help available to them by calling the Better Deal campaign hotline free on: 0800 500 800 or logging onto www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal