Rebecca Smith

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. Some 310 of my constituents signed the petition, placing South West Devon eighth out of all constituencies in the country. One constituent said: “At 73 I have lost many friends, at least 8, to this disease—and I have a few, three I know of, who were treated and survived due to early diagnosis.” Tina wrote: “Prostate cancer screening saved my brother-in-law; he went to the doctor for depression and was offered a routine Prostate screening test, it saved his life thankfully.” Another constituent asked me how it is possible to have reached the age of 69 without having had a PSA check from the GP, and that person was no one other than my predecessor, Sir Gary Streeter. When he was feeling unwell for a while, he went to be tested and had a PSA of 251. He has benefited from the NHS gym scheme and specifically wanted me to ask the Minister this: what work will happen to ensure that the scheme happens right across the country, and is not a postcode lottery? He is aware that, although he has benefited from the scheme, not everybody can. Ultimately, he is doing well—just to reassure everyone. Finally, I want to mention the Chestnut Appeal for Men’s Health, which is a local charity that works with men who are suffering from or living with prostate cancer and their families. It has done some fantastic work with Plymouth Argyle recently.