September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and local Senedd Member Paul Davies, whose father died of blood cancer, is keen to push for improvements in support for those affected.

The Pembrokeshire MS attended the launch of Blood Cancer UK’s new action plan, which sets out what needs to change to ensure that the 40,000 people diagnosed with blood cancer in the UK each year have the best chance of survival.

Mr Davies said, “It was a privilege to attend the launch of Blood Cancer UK’s new action plan. The plan highlights a number of areas where serious improvement is needed including the NHS workforce, early diagnosis initiatives, barriers to care and poor data collection practices. The data revealed in the report also shows that over a million potential years of life have been lost to blood cancer over ten years and that UK survival is falling behind other similar countries. That is unacceptable and changes need to be made as a matter of urgency.”

He added, “I’ve been contacted by many people in Pembrokeshire affected by blood cancer and they are calling for more investment and support for the blood cancer community. It’s a matter that’s particularly close to my heart.”