A BOLTON MP has urged the Prime Minister to make improving cancer survival a priority for the NHS.

Bolton North East MP Sir David Crausby is among 174 MPs and Lords who have signed a letter drafted by Cancer Research UK, which was presented to 10 Downing Street this week.

The letter asks the UK Government to commit to training and employing more NHS staff.

Sir David said: “We’ve known for a long time that quick diagnosis is an essential part of cancer survival. The fact is that we have an aging society and that means demand for these NHS services is likely to rise over time and I don’t want people left waiting for tests because we didn’t create enough capacity in the system.

"Let’s start training the staff we need today to meet that extra demand in the future and save lives.”

At the moment half of all cancer patients are diagnosed at a late stage making survival less likely.

Currently 50 per cent of people survive their cancer and by 2030 Cancer Research UK wants to raise this to 75 per cent.