Claim that leaving agreement due to Brexit compromises cancer treatment

A group of Pro-European Ealing campaigners will be taking to the streets this weekend to campaign for the UK to remain part of Euratom.

They claim that leaving this cross European agreement puts at risk cancer patients who may no longer be able to receive critical radiotherapy treatments without disruption. About 1 million UK patients a year receive treatments or diagnostic scans that use isotopes which are subject to strict controls on cross border transfer. As most of these isotopes are not produced in the UK and often need to be delivered at short notice, we are currently dependent on being a member of Euratom for supplies. Some of these materials decay within hours or day and can’t be stored. They therefore need to be supplied form nearby countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. The Royal College of Radiologists have expressed concern that leaving Euratom could threaten the supply of vital medical material.

Members of the Ealing European Movement will be joining forces with Hammersmith, Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham groups at three locations on Saturday 27 January.
The locations for the action day are as follows:
- Lyric Square and King Street, Hammersmith (W60ED) (11am to 1pm)
- Fulham Broadway tube station (SW61BY) (1 to 3pm)
- Notting Hill Gate Farmers Market (W113LQ) (10am to 12pm)

The campaign comes at a time when the Nuclear Safeguards Bill is going through Parliament. Although the European Movement does not want the UK to leave the EU, Brexit does not mean the UK has to pull out of the European Atomic Energy Community.

Corinne Firket, Group Chair of Ealing European Movement, said, “Without Euratom, it will be very difficult to treat cancer patients. It is essential that the European Movement keeps fighting to break Brexit and remain part of Euratom.”

The government describes these reports as “alarmist”, causing “unnecessary worry” for cancer patients.

January 25, 2018