MP calls for bowel cancer screening in Hull

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has used national Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to press for the swiftest possible roll-out of the Government's National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

The Hull North MP has tabled a Parliamentary Early Day motion (EDM) congratulating Cancer Research UK for its 'Run for Moore' series of charity races this Summer and urging the swiftest possible expansion of the Government's new National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

The call comes after the Department of Health announced that the first pilot projects in the screening programme, where were originally due to begin this month, will now start in September.

The full text of Diana Johnson's EDM, which has already attracted the support of MPs from three political parties, reads:

"That this House congratulates Cancer Research UK for organising the 'Run for Moore' charity runs that take place between 14th May and 2nd July 2006, and which aim to raise awareness of bowel cancer as the UK's second biggest cause of cancer deaths; believes that these events are an excellent way to celebrate the sporting achievements on the 40th anniversary of the 1966 World Cup of England's former football captain Bobby Moore, who died from bowel cancer in 1993; believes that the best memorial of all to Bobby Moore would be for the Department of Health to ensure an efficient roll-out of the National Bowel Cancer Screening programme during 2006; and further believes that Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is an appropriate time for Ministers to make a statement on this important issue."

Diana Johnson MP said: "Cancer Research UK and other charities are doing a fine job raising the profile of bowel cancer as the UK's second biggest cause of cancer deaths, with some 16,000 deaths every year.

"The case of the late, great Bobby Moore shows that bowel cancer can strike even the fittest and most athletic people. But we also know that caught in time, with the help of screening, bowel cancer can be treated successfully.

"It is excellent that the Labour Government is introducing a National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, the first of its kind in Europe. The sooner it is up and running across the country the more lives will be saved.

"With so much good work already under way in Hull to encourage cancer prevention, for example with our healthy schools meals policy and the Health Trainers initiative, and with Hull singled out by the Government as suffering some of the worst health inequalities in the country, I want to see bowel cancer screening in Hull as soon as possible."