IMPACT OF TRAVEL ON CHILDREN WITH CANCER

That this House notes that December is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and welcomes CLIC Sargent's new report A Long Way From Home: the impact of travel on children and young people with cancer; recognises the significant distances many children and young people with cancer must travel for treatment because of the specialist nature of the treatment required; further notes with concern that the report finds that 77 per cent. of children with cancer must travel outside of their home city to receive specialist and age-appropriate treatment and care and that an average round-trip for treatment is 60 miles; further recognises that travel to and from treatment can exacerbate the emotional, practical and social difficulties faced by children, young people and families affected by childhood cancer in addition to creating further significant burderns; congratulates CLIC Sargent for the work it carries out in providing vital support for children and young people with cancer and enabling them to spend more time at home during treatment; and therefore encourages the Government to work with CLIC Sargent to look at ways in which to minimise the impact of travelling while ensuring safe and effective treatment for children and young people with cancer.