The mother of a child who lost her life to a rare form of cancer has criticized the government for pausing the work of a group aimed at combating the disease in children. The Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce was formed in February 2024 after Charlotte Fairall’s daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed with soft tissue cancer. Sophia died in the same year after a tumor was discovered in her abdomen.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the taskforce was “paused rather than canceled” while his department looked for the optimal way to move forward. Charlotte Fairall expressed her disappointment at the news, saying that the group, made up of clinicians, charities, and patient groups, had already developed an action plan. She described the suspension as a letdown for children with cancer, who did not get a voice in the program, and whose needs were not adequately addressed.
Charlotte Fairall commented further that the timing of the announcement was particularly inappropriate since her daughter was diagnosed in September, the month dedicated to childhood cancer awareness and also the month that Sophie passed away. In fighting the disease, Sophie underwent treatment that, given the cancer’s aggressiveness, was always going to be futile, according to her mother. The government’s failure to prioritize child cancer over the years has left many families, like hers, feeling abandoned and unacknowledged.
Conservative MP Caroline Dinenage, who chairs the taskforce, criticized the decision, believing it was misconceived. She contended that the task force had been set up to effect immediate improvements, and valuable time and momentum would now be wasted. Caroline Dinenage added that she would continue to campaign for the program to move forward.
While addressing Parliament earlier, Wes Streeting conveyed his sympathy to Charlotte Fairall and her family for the profound pain, grief, and loss they had to endure. He clarified his department’s position, explaining that it aimed to avoid the creation of numerous taskforces that could end up as substitutes for real action. The Department of Health and Social Care has yet to issue an official response
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