Lincoln Conservative Association

City Member of Parliament, Karl M^cCartney, supports the International Diabetes Federation in raising awareness of diabetes in Parliament

City MP Karl M^cCartney has joined a raft of MPs to back a quirky campaign to help raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer during the month formerly known as November.

Karl is one of fourteen MPs from across the three main parties who have been growing and nurturing moustaches – in Karl’s case a moustache and ‘goatee’ – over the month to support Movember, which aims to change the face of men’s health by raising awareness of prostate cancer and other men’s heath issues.

Alongside a quarter of a million men across the UK, Karl M^cCartney has become a walking, talking billboard, using his moustache to put prostate cancer firmly on the agenda, during November.

Furthermore, along with over 50 other MPs Karl M^cCartney has signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament in support of the campaign, which has successfully raised millions of pounds for research into prostate cancer and to support people affected by the disease.

Karl M^cCartney, MP for Lincoln, said: “Movember is a brilliant, quirky cause which I have been proud to be a part of over the last month. Not only does it encourage millions to talk about men’s health issues, it also raises vital funds for The Prostate Cancer Charity, enabling them to fund essential research and provide top class support services for men and their families affected by the disease.”

A newly-hirsute Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “There have been some hairy moments, but as the moustache season draws to a close it’s great to know that so many MPs have been through this journey with me, and that many more have signalled their support for the campaign. Although prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, it lags behind other common cancers, both in terms of investment in research and in awareness. The fact that so many politicians have shown their support just goes to show how Movember is helping us to redress this balance and put the disease firmly in the spotlight. ”

Since its humble beginnings in Australia in 2003, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.1 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate worldwide so far.

Last year over 111,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas across the UK raised an amazing £11.7 million. These funds have helped support The Prostate Cancer Charity’s vital work fighting prostate cancer on every front – through research, support, information and campaigning.  This year a hair raising 250,000 men and women have taken part across the UK with at least £14 million raised already. 

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

Notes 

The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research are Movember’s beneficiary partners in the UK.

Confirmed MPs who have grown a moustache for Movember 2011 are: Oliver Colvile (Con, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport); Mike Crockart (Lib Dem, Edinburgh West); Nic Dakin (Lab, Scunthorpe County), Rob Flello (Lab, Stoke on Trent South), John Hemming (Lib Dem, Birmingham Yardley), John Leech (Lib Dem, Withington, Manchester); Jason McCartney (Con, Colne Valley); Karl McCartney (Con, Lincoln), Ian Mearns (Lab, Gateshead); Ian Murray (Lab, Edinburgh South); Graeme Morrice (Lab, Livingston) Nick Smith (Lab, Blaenau Gwent), Roger Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon and Radnorshire). Paul Uppal (Con, Wolverhampton South West)

Confirmed Mo-Sistas who supported the Movember campaign throughout November are Julie Hilling (Lab, Bolton West) Meg Munn (Lab and Co-op, Sheffield Heeley) and Jo Swinson (Lib Dem, East Dunbartonshire)

The full text of the Movember EDMs and a list of signatories can be found here: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2351, http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2343.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Every year in the UK 37,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. One man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK.

African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men.

The Prostate Cancer Charity is striving for a world where lives are no longer limited by prostate cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front – through research, support, information and campaigning.

If you have any queries about prostate cancer, call The Prostate Cancer Charity’s confidential Helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 – 9pm or visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk

Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, supports life-saving cancer research in the East Midlands

Karl McCartney, the Member of Parliament for Lincoln, is highlighting Cancer Research UK’s work in the East Midlands and backing the charity’s bid to make the region and the UK a thriving environment for medical research.

Mr McCartney met Cancer Research UK’s doctors, scientists and supporters – including East Midlands researcher Professor Will Steward, Head of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine at the Leicester Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre – at a special reception at Westminster recently (Tuesday 12 July).

As well as finding out more about the cutting edge research carried out in the East Midlands, he heard that Cancer Research UK receives no Government funding and relies on the generosity of supporters to fund its life-saving work.

Around three people are diagnosed with cancer every hour in the East Midlands* but the good news is that thousands of mums, dads, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters across the region are alive today thanks to research into cancer.

Mr McCartney, said: “I was keen to find out more about work funded by Cancer Research UK throughout the UK.  I feel proud that research in the East Midlands makes such a significant contribution to the fight against cancer.  It’s heartening to know that by supporting Cancer Research UK’s work local people could be making a big difference to cancer patients here on their doorstep.”

Cancer Research UK is calling on the Government to work in partnership with the scientific community to ensure that pioneering new research can be transferred from the lab bench to the patient’s bedside as quickly as possible.

Government Minister Anne Milton MP spoke at the Westminster reception and discussed the Government’s future plans for science and research in the UK.

Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, thanked Mr McCartney for his support.

He said: “Cancer Research UK is working hard in every region of the UK to beat cancer. Ninety per cent of the population live within 30 miles of a laboratory or hospital where we’re funding life-saving research, which is funded entirely by the generosity of the public.

“We welcome the government’s recent commitments that will help us with the research we fund in the NHS. We now want the Government to involve Cancer Research UK in planning for the future of medical research in the UK.”

People in Lincolnshire who are diagnosed with cancer benefit from research carried out by Cancer Research UK. For example, women in Lincoln are being recruited for a major international cancer prevention trial called IBIS‐II. The trial will find out if a drug called anastrozole can prevent breast cancer in post‐menopausal women at high risk of the disease. This research could help save thousands of women from developing breast cancer in the future.

People in the East Midlands who take part in Race for Life make a huge contribution to this work by raising vital funds.

As the Race for Life series draws to a close for 2011, Cancer Research UK is asking participants to make all the fun and emotion of the big day count – by returning the money they have raised to the charity, where it will be used to fund research which saves lives.

Picture caption: Lincoln MP, Karl McCartney supports life-saving research in the East Midlands, with Cancer Research UK scientist, Professor Will Steward, Head of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine at the Leicester Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre – at Westminster on Tuesday 12^th July.

To find out more about Cancer Research UK’s work and how to support the charity please visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

-NOTES  -

• *All cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) diagnosed from 2006-2008 in the East Midlands Government Office Region.

About Cancer Research UK

·         Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research

• The charity’s groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.  This work is funded entirely by the public.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates double in the last forty years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to beat cancer.

For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 3469 6699 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org

12 July 2011 : Column 141

1. Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con): What arrangements are in place to ensure increased funding for the NHS during the comprehensive spending review period. [65106]

The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley): We will increase NHS funding in real terms in each year of this Parliament. Compared to the level of expenditure in the National Health Service in the last financial year, the resources available to the NHS will increase by £12.5 billion by the end of the spending review period. The budget available for the NHS in the financial year 2011-12 is 3.9% higher than spend in the previous year, 2010-11.

Karl McCartney: Can my right hon. Friend give me any examples of how the increased funding this Government have promised here in England is, unlike what is happening in Wales, delivering better care for our NHS services?

Mr Lansley: Yes, I can indeed do that. We are committed to real-terms increases in the NHS budget in England. According to an analysis by the King’s Fund, the Welsh Assembly Government — a Labour-led Welsh Government — are going to reduce the NHS budget by 8.3% in real terms by 2013-14 in comparison with 2010-11. That might be one reason why it is already the case that in Wales, 26.4% of patients in April 2011 waited more than 18 weeks for treatment.

For the full Health PQs, please go to http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110712/debtext/110712-0001.htm#11071255000011

Karl M^cCartney, Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, attends Rethink tea party

On Friday 10 June, Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney, joined Rethink staff, carers and service users at a tea party event in Lincoln.  Rethink is a leading national mental health membership charity; which works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover to lead a better quality of life.

Karl M^CCartney, Member of Parliament for Lincoln said: “I am delighted to have attended the Rethink tea party.  It’s the perfect example of a community event that brings people together and helps break down the stigma still surrounding mental illness.”

“Mental health issues will affect many in Lincoln – whether directly, or as carers and families.  It’s important that everyone has access to the support and information they need.  Events like these are crucial to that aim.”

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at  karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

Karl M^cCartney, Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, visits The Lincoln Hospital

Karl M^cCartney, MP for Lincoln, made a special visit to BMI The Lincoln Hospital recently to meet with staff, consultants and patients and learn about the important role the team are playing in the provision of healthcare across Lincolnshire.

During the tour led by the hospital’s Acting Director of Clinical Services Avril Mackie, Karl visited a number of departments including physiotherapy where he met with physiotherapist Lyndsey Townsend and tried out the unit’s Wii Fit.  The Wii Fit is used at The Lincoln Hospital to assess a patient’s balance in orthopaedics and is also used to demonstrate to patients how they are over compensating for painful joints.  Post-operatively it enables the hospital’s physiotherapists to determine how well the patient is recovering following joint replacement.

Concluding his tour, Karl met with the hospital’s Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), consultant anaesthetist Dr Alan Feerick to discuss the vital role the consultants, nurses and staff at the hospital play in the effective delivery of care to patients.

Karl M^CCartney, Member of Parliament for Lincoln said: “The whole tour really highlighted the dedication, great quality of care and personal service that everyone who works at The Lincoln Hospital provides to their patients.  Avril was so passionate about the healthcare profession, and it was inspiring to speak with her about her team.  Hospital visits such as this can sometimes be very formal affairs so it was great to be able to have a more hands-on experience at The Lincoln.”

After the visit Avril Mackie added: “We were delighted to welcome Karl M^cCartney MP to our hospital and give him a tour of our departments and facilities.  It was great that he was so willing to learn about what we do in our roles to assist patients from across Lincolnshire everyday.  I would like to thank Mr M^cCartney for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit us.”

Karl with physiotherapist, Lyndsey Townsend, at BMI The Lincoln Hospital

Notes

About BMI The Lincoln Hospital

The Lincoln Hospital is part of BMI Healthcare, the UK’s largest independent provider of private healthcare with more than 70 hospitals and facilities nationwide. Our commitment is to quality and value, providing facilities for advanced surgical procedures together with friendly, professional care.

For more information visit www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/lincoln

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

Following the publication of Holding Back the British IVF Revolution?, a report by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Infertility, Lincolnshire PCT was shown to offer just one cycle of IVF provision in Lincoln.  Karl M^CCartney, Member of Parliament for Lincoln and Deputy Chairman of the APPG on Infertility said:

“I am a little concerned that the NICE guidelines of offering three courses of IVF are not followed, and in Lincolnshire only one course of treatment is funded by the NHS.  Whilst some couples can afford to pay for further courses of IVF themselves, many, unfortunately, cannot.

“As the Minister and my colleague Graham Johnson MP (Chairman of the APPG on Infertility) have said, an inability to conceive can place extraordinarily high levels of stress and anxiety on couples and their families.  The difficulties that such couples face should be more widely recognised, as should the need to assure them of high quality investigation and follow-up provision in fertility services throughout the NHS.  It is important that PCTs fully appreciate the extent to which infertility can lead to family breakdown and other negative consequences and to recognise IVF as a legitimate clinical need.

“I am pleased to support this report and believe that it goes some way towards highlighting just some of the difficulties that infertile couples can face in accessing treatment.”

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

Lincoln’s MP, Karl M^CCartney, supports campaign to “Give Carers a Break”

Despite the Government’s announcement in November 2010 that £400m would be made available to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)  to pay for breaks for adult and young carers, the country’s six million carers fear that they will not get the breaks they desperately need if PCTs are not held to account.

Karl M^CCartney, Member of Parliament for Lincoln, is supporting a new campaign  “Give Carers a Break” launched at an event held on Monday 23^rd May in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, London, by two of the country’s leading carers’ charities, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care.

The two charities are calling upon Primary Care Trusts, who have not yet revised their plans for supporting carers in the light of the funding allocation, to work in partnership with local carers’ organisations to use the money within their allocations to support carers through breaks and other forms of help.

Carers and carers’ organisations throughout the country are being asked to highlight the local issues and work positively with PCTs and local authorities to achieve the best outcome for carers and MPs are being asked to support the campaign in their areas.

Karl said, “I fully support The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care in this campaign.  Carers make a significant contribution to our society and it is in everyone’s interest that they are supported in order to continue to care safely and in good health.  Breaks from their caring role can be a huge help in helping them to carry on the amazing support they give as carers and I know and understand this particularly well from my time as a volunteer with High Hopes, a charity in the South East offering respite care and activity holidays for young adults.”

For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

- Notes -

1.The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is the UK’s largest provider of comprehensive support services for carers, reaching more than 424,000 carers (including more than 28,500 young carers) through a unique network of 144 independently managed Carers’ Centres, 89 young carers’ services and interactive websites: www.carers.org and www.youngcarers.net To find your nearest Carers’ Centre, call 0844 800 4361.

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2. Crossroads Care is Britain’s leading provider of support for carers and the people they care for. We work with more than 41,000 individuals and their families, helping carers make a life of their own outside caring. There are Crossroads Care schemes in most parts of England and Wales and 30% of schemes provide dedicated help to young carers. Crossroads Care services are provided for carers of all ages and our 6,000+ highly trained staff have the knowledge and experience to develop flexible personalised care packages that meet the needs both of the carer and the person they support across a wide range of disabilities and health conditions.   For further information visit www.crossroads.org.uk

3.  A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems

4. Link to “Give Carers A Break” campaign  www.carers.org/givecarersabreak