Client:The UK Lung Cancer Coalition
Campaign:Public affairs support and strategic advice

The challenge

The UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) is a partnership of leading lung cancer experts, healthcare professionals, charities and healthcare companies. The Coalition came together in 2005 and is the UK’s only multi-interest group in lung cancer. It’s also the first time that all the major charities with an interest in the lung cancer have joined forces to fight the disease.

The UKLCC believes that lung cancer survival could be doubled by implementing best practice across the NHS. This would extend, or potentially save, thousands of lives. In order to meet this ‘survival challenge’ the members believe that we need renewed political focus on lung cancer, increased effort across the NHS, and work to engage the public with lung cancer issues.

The Mandate team has supported the UKLCC since its launch, tasked with delivering a comprehensive public affairs programme aimed at:

• Building the profile of the UKLCC and lung cancer issues with politicians and policy-makers
• Increasing public awareness of lung cancer signs and symptoms, and encouraging earlier symptom recognition and presentation
• Promoting best practice in lung cancer care
• Encouraging increased patient empowerment and improvement in patients’ experience of care
• Adding value to and co-ordinating with member organisations’ own activities, rather than duplicating effort

Solution

Since its launch in Westminster - at which the Cancer Minister renewed the Government’s commitment to tackling lung cancer - the Coalition has secured widespread parliamentary support. The UKLCC has established a small group of cross-party Lung Cancer Parliamentary Champions who have visited lung cancer services in their own constituencies, seeing at first hand the dedication of healthcare professionals on the front line of the NHS and hearing from patients, doctors and nurses about the challenges that still need to be met.

The Lung Cancer Champions have supported Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, through photocalls securing national and local press coverage. They have been active in tabling questions and Early Day Motions - drawing attention to a range of lung cancer issues, from information provision and access to scanners, to research funding and the need for a specialist workforce. Most recently, the UKLCC hosted a successful roundtable meeting for Parliamentarians with lung cancer patients and specialist lung cancer nurses, highlighting the vital role that specialist nurses play in supporting patients and their families and making the case for current posts to be secured and overall numbers increase.

To ensure that the specific needs of lung cancer patients are reflected in national cancer policy, the UKLCC has responded to national consultations including the Cancer Reform Strategy. The coalition has also launched its own manifesto for change, with a new Lung Cancer Plan containing 12 key calls for action. The plan has drawn the warm support of leading policy-makers and parliamentarians, and Mandate will be working with the UKLCC to bring its calls to life in the year ahead.

Result

• The UKLCC has established Parliamentary Champions in every region of the UK
• Champions have visited more than 10 lung cancer centres, gaining a unique insight into lung cancer services
• Parliamentary attention has been drawn to lung cancer through questions on a wide range of issues
• The UKLCC’s ideas and calls have been reflected in national policy documents
• Through supportive press work, the Coalition’s messages have reached more than 15 million people