Teenage Cancer Trust responds to Government plans to boost clinical trials as part of the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan
The Government has announced an ‘unprecedented boost’ for clinical trials under its 10 Year Health Plan. Millions of people will now be able to search for and sign up to lifechanging clinical trials, via the NIHR Be Part of Research service on the NHS App, allowing patients to browse and find the trials best suited to their interests and needs.
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Responding to the news, Kirsty Slack, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns, Teenage Cancer Trust, said:
“Young people in the UK with cancer find it extremely tough to access potentially life-saving clinical trials. The launch of this new service on the NHS app is a welcome innovation, giving young people the power to quickly search for opportunities through technology that’s integral to their daily lives.
“However, there are more access barriers to overcome before young people with cancer move near to the ‘front of the queue’ for clinical trials.
Last year, Teenage Cancer Trust published a report highlighting the lack of visibility of clinical trials, and which called for young people to be able to access up-to-date and reliable information on trials that are available. Age criteria applied to trials continue to exclude young people, while efforts to recruit more young people must also include the provision of accessible and age-appropriate information on what taking part will mean for them.
“We hope that through the upcoming National Cancer Plan for England we see steps to address this and create positive change for young people with cancer.”