North MP highlights work of nurses as he raises a cuppa for Macmillan

North MP Jamie Stone praised nurses for going "through hell and back" as he gave his backing to the World's Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, pointed out that workforce shortages remain the biggest challenge facing health services.

To help meet the UK government's NHS long-term plan, Macmillan estimates that it needs an additional 3371 cancer nurse specialists – which would mean doubling the cancer workforce by 2030.

Macmillan is calling for the government to announce a cancer nurse fund in the autumn spending review and invest £124 million to train the next generation of cancer nurses.

Mr Stone said: "Our nurses have gone through hell and back over the course of the pandemic. Problems that already existed have been exacerbated and they certainly won't disappear once we emerge from this crisis.

"Coronavirus has laid bare the cracks in our NHS workforces, and the government must do everything possible to seal them.

"My family, like so many others, has experienced the dark shadow of cancer. I personally know how fantastic Macmillan's work is, and I will try my best to support their cause."

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