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17/09/2012
Government Relaxes Plan To Force Cancer Patients To Look For Work
A controversial government plan to force people receiving treatment for cancer to actively seek work as a condition of receiving sickness benefits has been “toned down”.
The concessions announced by ministers today came after intense lobbying by cancer charities.
There had also been indications from the government that they would seek to make changes after they suffered humiliating defeats in the Lords on the issue during the passage of the welfare reform bill in January.
The changes will also delay the financial impact of reforms on many people undergoing some forms of chemotherapy for cancer. These patients stood to lose up to £94 a week employment and support allowance (ESA) after a year, despite still receiving medical treatment, or recovering from it.
Although the ESA time limit is still in place, the 12-month cut-off point for financial support for cancer patients will now start only when they have finished and fully recovered from their treatment, rather than when they start it.
The benefit process will also be simplified, with cancer patients now asked to go through a "light touch" application process for ESA in which they will have to supply a GP's report in receipt of their claim rather than having to go through a potentially stressful back-to-work test conducted by Atos.
The decision was welcomed by Macmillan Cancer Support, which had argued that the plans would have a "catastrophic" effect on cancer patients and their families and push many into financial crisis.
(H)
The concessions announced by ministers today came after intense lobbying by cancer charities.
There had also been indications from the government that they would seek to make changes after they suffered humiliating defeats in the Lords on the issue during the passage of the welfare reform bill in January.
The changes will also delay the financial impact of reforms on many people undergoing some forms of chemotherapy for cancer. These patients stood to lose up to £94 a week employment and support allowance (ESA) after a year, despite still receiving medical treatment, or recovering from it.
Although the ESA time limit is still in place, the 12-month cut-off point for financial support for cancer patients will now start only when they have finished and fully recovered from their treatment, rather than when they start it.
The benefit process will also be simplified, with cancer patients now asked to go through a "light touch" application process for ESA in which they will have to supply a GP's report in receipt of their claim rather than having to go through a potentially stressful back-to-work test conducted by Atos.
The decision was welcomed by Macmillan Cancer Support, which had argued that the plans would have a "catastrophic" effect on cancer patients and their families and push many into financial crisis.
(H)
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29 July 2010
£50M Fund For Cancer Drugs Announced
Cancer patients are set to get greater access to cancer drugs recommended by their doctors as a result of a new £50 million fund, the government has announced.
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17 June 2005
New drug raises hope of cancer treatment
A prototype cancer drug, which could help fight a range of cancers, has shown “promising results” in clinical trials. Scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research found that the 17AAG drug selectively and potently blocked the growth of a wide range of common cancer cells.
New drug raises hope of cancer treatment
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PM Backs Cancer Care Strategy
As Gordon Brown struggled to distract critics over the growing controversy on Labour party fundraising activities, the Government today published a new five-year strategy on cancer.
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As Gordon Brown struggled to distract critics over the growing controversy on Labour party fundraising activities, the Government today published a new five-year strategy on cancer.
16 April 2012
Celebs Support Early Detection Drive
Sharon Osbourne and football legends Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex Ferguson are among the celebrities backing a drive to increase the early detection of cancer.
Celebs Support Early Detection Drive
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