I am a prostate cancer patient who learned about the transformative impact of focal therapy. This treatment, which is evidence-based, has proven to be as effective as surgery and radiotherapy but comes with far fewer negative side effects. For those battling prostate cancer, the availability of such a treatment provides a beacon of hope—a chance for improved quality of life during and after treatment.

Currently, focal therapy is only being offered by NHS England.

This treatment had undergone a rigorous 10-year study demonstrating its efficacy and safety. Recognizing its value, more areas within England are starting to adopt it. However, there is a glaring omission—patients outside of England do not have access to this crucial therapeutic option, including those in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

This situation highlights a significant inequality in healthcare provision across the United Kingdom, where patients deprived of this choice may face more invasive treatments with debilitating side effects. Every prostate cancer patient in the UK deserves equal access to the most effective and least harmful treatment options available.

How many more must suffer from avoidable pain and side effects before action is taken? We urge the appropriate healthcare authorities within the UK to develop a comprehensive plan and timeline to extend the availability of focal therapy beyond NHS England. This step is critical not only to address the current disparity but to uphold the standards of equitable healthcare access.

Join this urgent call to action and help prostate cancer patients access the care they truly need. Sign this petition for a fair and just healthcare system.