Local MP Amy Callaghan has been re-elected to serve another year as Chair of the APPG on Children, Teenagers & Young Adults with Cancer at their latest annual general meeting.
Working with charities such as the Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent, the Group aims to raise the voices of children, teenagers and young adults affected by cancer in Parliament.
Having been diagnosed herself at the age of 19, Amy has been cancer-free since 2014. She wishes to use her platform and experience to help support young people going through treatment across the country.
She said, “I’m delighted to have been endorsed by colleagues from across Parliament and re-elected as chair of the APPG on Children, Teenagers & Young Adults with Cancer.
“It is a real honour for me, and I look forward to working alongside and on behalf of children and young people with cancer to champion their voices in Parliament.
“For many young patients one of the most challenging things about their treatment throughout the pandemic has been being unable to have a parent, partner, or friend with them during the course of their time in hospital.
“It is incredibly important that we improve the system of support for young cancer patients and raise awareness about the key issues affecting them and their families throughout their diagnosis and treatment experience.
“As chair I was delighted to support CLIC Sargent and Teenage Cancer Trust on the launch of the #Hand2Hold campaign earlier this year, to raise awareness of this issue and to call on the government to allow young people in hospital with cancer to have a hand to hold where safe and possible to do so. Although some hospitals were already permitting this, it was unfortunately not the case for many young patients and this inconsistency needed addressing.
“Ahead of the campaign launch in February, I met with Jo Churchill MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, to raise this issue and following my re-election as chair I hope to arrange a follow up discussion with Health Ministers from across the UK to address this issue in all four nations.
CLIC Sargent and Teenage Cancer Trust have put together guidance for young people (aged 16-25) in Scotland on discussing having a visitor and #Hand2Hold with you during your cancer treatment. More information can be found via their websites.
#Hand2Hold links available here:
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