Dr Rupa Huq, the Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton, has been credited by the health secretary, Wes Streeting, with helping to secure wider NHS access in England to a prostate cancer drug that campaigners say could save lives.
The government has announced that abiraterone will be made available on the NHS in England for patients with high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer, expanding eligibility beyond those whose cancer has already spread. The treatment has long been available more widely in Scotland and Wales, prompting calls for England to follow suit.
Prostate Cancer UK estimates that more than 7,000 men in England will begin treatment within weeks of the change, and that one in five could avoid their cancer worsening as a result.
The change follows a Commons debate led by Dr Huq in June 2025. During the debate she highlighted the experience of a local constituent, Peter Treadgold, who she said had been diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer but could not access abiraterone on NHS prescription under the previous rules. Huq also spoke about her father, who died from prostate cancer.
Mr Streeting said: “I want to say a massive thanks to Rupa for all of her advocacy and campaigning, she has been a massive champion on this. So it is thanks to Rupa, that we’re doing this, it’s on the agenda and made a massive impact.”
Dr Huq welcomed the decision and linked it to her family’s experience. Dr Huq said: “My sister Konnie and I lost our dad to this cruel disease and saw the pain he was in which progressively worsened over the last ten years of his life. It’s fantastic news now that the government are going ahead with making it available to all men in England; a great new years present and a tribute not only to our lovely dad who we miss everyday but also my constituent Peter Treadgold who first made me aware of this.”
