A Happy New Year. Yes, I’m back again; you can’t get rid of me that easily. I thought it best to give us both a break from all this boring old cancer stuff over the Christmas period, as it would be the last thing you want to read about while tucking into all that lovely food!

I am looking upon this time as a new year with new hope. A lot has happened since I was last let loose on you in mid-December. Hopefully, we have seen the last of the snow and ice, which caused so many travel problems, and for many of us presented the challenge of just how to keep warm, despite all the layers of clothes we were wearing. I dread to think what our next energy bill will be!

Also, it appears the dreaded swine flu has not yet proved to be as bad as expected. Long may this continue. I have to admit, it did worry me somewhat, due to my own compromised immune system, and I was relieved to get the vaccine, along with others at risk.

New Year’s Day saw a few of us braving the cold, but thankfully sunny weather, with collecting buckets on the Swinford toll bridge. We were raising funds for UCARE, (ucare-oxford.org.uk) an excellent local cancer charity which I have long supported.

We collected in excess of £850, a magnificent total, and would like to thank all those who gave so generously, together with the proprietors of the toll bridge.

The main reason I am viewing this year with new hope is due to the fact the Conservatives have published their Draft Manifesto 2010, which contains their reform plan for the NHS.

Sweeping changes are proposed. They talk about introducing a Patient Centred NHS, and state they will focus on the health results that really matter, like improving cancer and stroke survival rates and reducing infections. They intend to measure success against those countries with the most effective systems of healthcare.

Most importantly is their intention to achieve full accountability and transparency, and to save billions currently spent on needless bureaucratic checks.

This should cut the cost of resources presently being wasted on needless bureaucracy and improve support to doctors and nurses on the frontline, where a real difference can be made.

It all sounds very promising.

However, I am fully aware that this is only a draft manifesto by a party in opposition, and they first have to win a General Election.

Hopefully, we may soon have a government that is prepared to take the bull by the horns and make the necessary changes to improve patient outcomes and reduce needless waste seen in our NHS.

We as stakeholders must continue to demand the best. I have not yet fully made up my mind as to which party to vote for, but it goes without saying that I will be drawn to the party that offers the best hope for cancer patients, as we still lag so far behind others in survival rates.