Ashley Dalton says:
“Whilst my oral chemotherapy treatment will not stop me from being that champion for West Lancashire, I believe now is the right time to take the reasonable adjustments I need to both manage my condition and focus on being a constituency MP by stepping back from ministerial duties.”
Read her full letter below:
“Last month, I had the privilege of introducing the Government’s National Cancer Plan to Parliament. As a woman living with and receiving treatment for metastatic breast cancer, being entrusted with writing this plan has been an immense honour.
The National Cancer Plan won’t only save 320,000 lives over its lifetime, it will help people living with cancer to live well, and to work well.
As I was stood at the despatch box, speaking about the difference this work will make the lives of people like me up and down the country. I reflected on what living and working well means for myself.
Your Government has committed to making sure that people with long term health conditions are supported and enabled to return to or continue to work where they can. It is so important that we recognise the value of all of us to contribute and participate and that we stop writing people off due to health or disability.
My constituents deserve a Member of Parliament to represent them with diligence and conviction. Whilst my oral chemotherapy treatment will not stop me from being that champion for West Lancashire, I believe now is the right time to take the reasonable adjustments I need to both manage my condition and focus on being a constituency MP by stepping back from ministerial duties.
I will be forever grateful for the confidence you have shown in me, inviting me to bring my experience into Government. People living with cancer know that the Government places cancer patients at the heart of the National Cancer Plan because you put a cancer patient at the head of the Plan.
It is with great pride that I have also led the HIV Action Plan and the Men’s Health Strategy which we have launched during my time at the Department of Health and Social Care. These three landmark plans we have delivered in the past 12 months will be transformational for people across the country.
I return to the backbenches, committed to being a powerful voice in Westminster for my constituents. I will continue to work towards improving health outcomes for people living with cancer and support your leadership on the Government’s agenda to bring about the chango the country trusted us to deliver.”
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