- Conference
- 2010 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 8 September 2009
- Decision
- Carried
Conference believes that all girls and women should have a future free from the fear of breast cancer and associated conditions.
Conference supports the Government, the NHS and its staff in their continued commitment to improve breast cancer services in order to make the vision of a future free from the fear of breast cancer a reality for all. Conference welcomes the delivering of the 2008 Labour Conference promise of free prescriptions for drugs related to the treatment of cancer which has been in place from April of last year.
Whilst major progress has been made in the treatment of cancer patients it is vital for our members affected that we ensure the promises made to patients in the 2007, Department of Health, Cancer Reform Strategy Report are delivered.
Waiting for Results
The Government’s 2007 Cancer Reform Strategy recognised patients’ concerns and committed that all women with breast problems, referred by their GP to a specialist, do not wait longer than two weeks for an appointment and the target date by which this was to be achieved across England was December 2009.
It is important for our members, whether they are ultimately diagnosed with breast cancer or not that this most frightening time is as short as possible and that where they choose to make their conditions known they are supported in the workplace.
Lymphedema – Constant Reminder? Living with Lymphedema
If left untreated, lymphedema can have a significant impact on patients’ mobility, quality of life and self esteem. However, simple treatment can minimise the impact of this condition and allow patients to get on with their lives without the severe symptoms of lymphedema limiting them and acting as a constant reminder of their breast cancer experience.
Research has shown that patients with breast cancer related lymphedema say that in some areas of the UK there may be insufficient services for people with lymphedema, and that some patients have difficulty in gaining access to these services.
Other barriers to women achieving the best possible outcomes are the barriers they face in the workplace such as not having paid time off to access early diagnosis, lack of support during treatment, failure to provide equipment to continue to do their job and general support for women following their return to work.
Conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee:
1)To issue regular briefings which will cover the importance of breast cancer awareness and the role UNISON Branches, Women’s Structures and media can play in helping to spread awareness. (This guidance should also advise local activists on the benefits of using this as a recruitment issue).
2)To issue guidance to branches to enable them to negotiate with employers to ensure that as many women as possible can benefit from paid time off to attend breast screening appointments, be supported through the stages of diagnosis and for those diagnosed to be fully supported during their treatment and, when appropriate, their return to work.
3)To ensure branches are aware of lymphedema and encourage them to be aware of the services available in their area. Ensure branches are sufficiently informed to ensure that women living with lymphedema are not discriminated against in the workplace and receive all necessary reasonable adjustments.
4)To work with other specialist campaigning organisations such as
Breakthrough, Breast cancer Care, the Lymphedema Support Network and healthcare professionals with an interest in lymphedema to develop their campaign to improve lymphedema services.
5)To also work with relevant UNISON bodies, including Labour Link, to lobby the Government and MPs to ensure the Government meets their targets in relation to the Cancer Reform Strategy.