Mae Sioned Williams AS yn ysgrifennu am effeithiau niweidiol tlodi haul
Cyhoeddwyd yr erthygl hon yn y Western Mail ddydd Llun 12/08/24 (yn Saesneg).
More action needed on the preventable cancer that’s hitting Wales the hardest
We’ve certainly had some sun this summer already and I’m sure we all know someone who has already burnt. An enduring memory from my own childhood is seemingly constantly being slathered in sun cream by my mother, and it’s something I continued with my own children.
There always seems to be more options of what to do when it’s sunny. Whether it’s your back garden, the beach or local park - the ‘great outdoors’ is largely free, and an attractive option for those on tight budgets.
But being burnt is not the only damage the sun can cause: Exposure to UV from the sun is the primary cause of skin cancer, and in Wales, skin cancers account for almost half of all cancers. Wales also has the dubious honour of having the highest rates of skin cancer out of the four UK nations.
While skin cancer is treatable and the survival rate is high, there’s one very important additional point to make – in many cases, it’s completely preventable. By either staying out of direct sunlight, or regularly applying at least SPF 30 sun cream with a four-star or above UVA protection rating, we could significantly reduce the incidence of skin cancer.
But here’s the pinch – despite its essential role in protecting our health, sunscreen is currently classed as a cosmetic product and subject to the full rate of VAT.
That’s not all – Office of National Statistics data shows that in the last two years, the cost of sunscreen has increased by almost 30%, and sales have gone down. Even with those who do purchase sunscreen, concerns over costs may be encouraging them to use less than they should.
These two factors – the low cost of outdoor activities and the high price of suncream – means that people on lower incomes are at higher risk of developing this very much preventable cancer.
During the pandemic, governments took measures to protect public health. We are currently facing increasing rates of skin cancer, which mean higher cost to the NHS and also sadly an increase in deaths. We saw during the pandemic how hand sanitiser, for example, became regularly and freely available to the public as a preventative step.
That’s why I recently asked Welsh Government to consider making sunscreen available in similar dispensers in public sector workplaces, schools and hospitals and also to ensure all children in school learn about how to protect themselves from UV rays, and schools take steps to protect pupils, as this isn’t happening in all schools currently.
Most skin cancers are preventable, but they can be deadly. By implementing sound public health policies now, Welsh Government can do more to tackle this growing health crisis.