Taiwo Owatemi

It’s about ensuring that, at the most difficult time, families are supported rather than stretched even further.

Alongside wider commitments to improve cancer care for children and young people - from earlier diagnosis and expanded genomic testing to better access to clinical trials and psychosocial support - it reflects a more humane, family-centred approach to care.

This support, open to all families regardless of income, removes one of those pressures and allows families to focus on what truly matters.

That’s why the government’s new £10 million a year fund to cover travel costs for children and young people with cancer matters so much. Too many parents have been forced to make incredibly difficult financial choices simply to fund getting their child to hospital for the care they need.

More than a third of families travel over an hour to reach care, and the costs of petrol, train fares, parking and lost income can quickly become overwhelming.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families are suddenly facing long and frequent journeys to specialist hospitals, often several times a week, alongside the emotional strain of supporting a seriously ill child.

Before entering Parliament, I worked full time as a cancer pharmacist. In that role, I saw every day how cancer doesn’t just affect the person receiving treatment - it impacts the entire family around them. 🧵

Better road safety means healthier communities and higher standards for everyone. In Coventry, it’s been one of my priorities over the past year - and I’ll keep pushing for safer streets, better protection for children and pedestrians, and tougher action on dangerous driving.