Sandra Gidley MP Backs the Kid!

12.00.00am GMT Mon 19th Nov 2007

Sandra Gidley MP added her voice to those supporting improved services for cystic fibrosis sufferers at an event at the House of Commons on 14 November.

Sandra Gidley MP was attending the launch of the Back the Kid manifesto, which has been drawn up by the Back the Kid Panel of front-line health professionals who provide care to patients with cystic fibrosis. The manifesto calls for cystic fibrosis patients to have access to the best possible care and treatments in order to improve their quality and length of life. Sandra Gidley MP was also able to discuss current standards of cystic fibrosis care with patients of the condition and their families.

Commenting at the event, Sandra Gidley MP said:

"I am absolutely delighted to give my backing to the Back the Kid manifesto. Despite the welcome advances in cystic fibrosis care over the last 40 years, too many patients are today still not getting access to the best possible care and treatments.

"We need to do much more for cystic fibrosis patients and their families, and the Back the Kid manifesto sets out the steps which I will be pressing the Government to take."

Dr Ian Ketchell, a member of the Back the Kid Panel, welcomed Sandra Gidley MP's support:

"We have put a lot of work into the Back the Kid manifesto, but without the support of MPs like Sandra the vision we have set out will not become a reality. We look forward to continuing to work with Sandra Gidley MP over the coming months to ensure that cystic fibrosis patients receive the very best care possible."

Notes to Editors

1. Back the Kid is a nationwide campaign supported by an educational grant from Roche Products Limited to help ensure people with cystic fibrosis - particularly children and teens - have access to the best possible care and treatment to improve their quality of life and to help them live longer. More information can be found at: www.backthekid.com.

2. Cystic fibrosis is the UK's most common life-threatening, inherited disease. It affects more than 7,500 babies, children and young adults in the UK. Every week, three young lives are lost to the condition. Approximately 1 in 25 people in the UK carry the faulty cystic fibrosis gene - 2.3 million people in the UK. If both parents carry this faulty gene, there is a 25% chance that the child will have cystic fibrosis.

3. There is no cure for cystic fibrosis but, since the 1960s, average life expectancy has increased from just 5 years to 30 years, thanks to state-of-the-art treatments and better management. However, despite these advances, not all patients get access to the best standards of treatment, care and support. A recent study by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust revealed that almost one-third of patients with cystic fibrosis in the UK face barriers to accessing life-saving treatments, and that 38 specialist centres for cystic fibrosis are lacking adequate resources.

4. On 14 November 2007, the Back the Kid Manifesto was launched in an event at the House of Commons. The Manifesto includes calls for:

• All cystic fibrosis patients to get the most appropriate treatment and care

• New strategies to make services more accessible for patients

• Tailored information to be given to all patients