Earlier this week, Sharon Deveson Kell represented kidney cancer patients and families at the Big Cancer52 Conversation. This was the fourth Big Cancer52 Conversation, bringing together patient organisations representing rare and less common cancers with other charities, healthcare, government, and pharmaceutical industry sectors to collaborate and share best practice on healthcare inequalities.

The day started with a stimulating presentation by Professor Bola Owolabi (Director, National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England) who updated us on the progress and next steps for NHS England’s National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme.

This was followed by a superb panel session discussing healthcare inequalities for people with rare and less common cancers.

At the event Cancer52 launched a report on health inequalities ‘A Fair Chance: reducing health inequalities for people with rare and less common cancers‘. The report highlights the systematic yet avoidable differences in health and care. It calls for patient-focused action to ensure equitable access to health and care for people with rare and less common cancers, including improvements to health system data.

There followed a panel discussion where Cancer52 members shared their varied work in the area of healthcare inequalities.

The day finished with a discussion around engaging with the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and how Cancer52 members could collectively respond. if you would like to respond to the Government consultation on the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan, please click here for more information (you can respond as an individual).