TWO North Yorkshire sisters joined a march on Westminster to call on the government to urgently invest more in cancer care nurses.
Sisters Jemma and Kerry Ferguson, from Rishi Sunak's Richmond constituency, joined the march on Tuesday (March 22) organised by Macmillan Cancer Support.
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The aim was to deliver a strong message to politicians that 4,000 more cancer nurses are needed across England by 2030.
Thousands of campaigners sent papercraft nurses with messages of support for the charity’s campaign which were turned into an enormous paperchain and was hand delivered to the Treasury.
The cause is one close to the hearts of Jemma and Kerry who as teenagers lost their mum, Mary Ferguson, to breast cancer in 1998.
She was a busy working mum-of-three and only 37-years-old.
Their dad, Paul ‘Fergy’ Ferguson, was a full time firefighter in Richmond and suddenly found himself navigating his grief as well as a demanding job and raising three children.
Jemma said: “The impact of that loss for all of us was profound and life-changing but with the support of our pa and our grandparents and aunties we have been able to live a wonderful life nonetheless.”
Sadly, Paul died in 2020 from a rare type of cancer, he was supported by Macmillan nurses in his final weeks.
Kerry said: “The Macmillan nurses gave dad practical support, visits and things to think about.
“They organised equipment such as an adjustable bed, chair and a stair lift, they came to the house to help give him his medication and to help him with practical things like his finances as well as being available on the phone for any questions or support."
Macmillan Cancer Support says there is a chronic short-staffing crisis in the NHS, made worse by the pandemic.
The charity estimates that England needs 3,371 more cancer nurses by 2030 and is calling on Chancellor Sunak, to commit cash to the cancer workforce.
Macmillan are also warning of a crisis looming in Mr Sunak’s own Richmond consistency which is part of an area with the highest percentage of specialist cancer nurses aged 50 or over in England (54 percent).
As many of these specialists are nearing retirement age, the charity warns that the government is not doing enough to ensure that their expertise is replaced.
Jemma said: “Our message to Rishi Sunak is please listen to Macmillan as the experts in the field of cancer care and action their recommendations to ensure the 4,000 nurses so desperately needed are in place by 2030.
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“We travelled to Westminster because many people are sitting at home right now dealing with cancer and the impact on their lives, it really can happen to anyone.
“Macmillan are in people’s homes right now dealing with cancer patients during what can be the darkest and most challenging days of their lives.
“For us, this is personal.
"It’s a chance to create a positive legacy for our mum Mary and dad Paul and for all those people who have lost loved ones to this relentless disease."
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