Teacher who died after 15-week most cancers wait: ‘I’m a sufferer of Tory austerity’
An inspirational teacher turned campaigner who passed away last week with incurable cancer said he had hoped his legacy would be better outcomes for other NHS patients in a moving message.
Nathaniel Dye, 40, was forced to endure a 15-week wait to start treatment after his 2023 diagnosis of stage 4 bowel cancer, said he was a victim of Tory NHS neglect. The former primary school music teacher’s comments are being aired tonight in Labour’s political party broadcast – which has been dedicated to his memory.
In a poignant message, the late campaigner said: “I am obviously quite unlucky but I’m lucky to live in a system where we have the NHS. I see this Labour government being a force for good with the NHS. I have so many experiences with the NHS, I can see things turning a corner.
“And if I can have any legacy it will be to say that I’ve said what I can in the name of the NHS to hope that people have better outcomes than I have.”
READ MORE: Wes Streeting: ‘My friend died of cancer last week – I feel survivor’s guilt’READ MORE: ‘Inspirational’ teacher who turned to campaigning after terminal cancer diagnosis dies
Talking about his own experience, he added: “I have been given under 100 days to live. But it didn’t necessarily have to be like that. I am a victim of 14 years of Tory austerity, of blatant underfunding of the NHS. When I went to my GP – from that GP contact to my first chemotherapy session was well over 100 days. In that time my prognosis changed.
“At first I was told I’d have a horrible year. I was told things might be OK after that year… I’m living under a death sentence now”.
Ahead of the broadcast on Wednesday evening, Keir Starmer told The Mirror: “Nathaniel was a deeply kind and wonderful man, who represented the best of us.
“He fought with passion and conviction for an NHS fit for the future, right until the very end of his life. His determination to make things better for the next generation will never be forgotten. Each time I met him, I was continually inspired by his hope for others and belief in change, even in the most difficult of times. My thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who were proud to know him.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting also told The Mirror earlier this week: “My friend Nathaniel Dye who came to me actually as his local MP, that’s how we got to know each other and became friends, he came to me because he had stage 4 bowel cancer that had been diagnosed far too late.
“The NHS had missed the tell-tale signs. He had been kept waiting far too long for tests and scans. As a result of the contrast in our experiences, I’m here talking to you and he died last week. It doesn’t get more brutal than that in terms of an NHS that is there when you need it – and an NHS that isn’t.
Nathaniel received an MBE for his work campaigning for cancer awareness and a better NHS after his diagnosis in 2023 and spoke at Labour’s manifesto launch in 2024.
After his diagnosis, he raised money for Macmillan through challenges such as walking from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and running the London Marathon while playing the trombone.
