Albert Thompson finally given date to receive cancer treatment

Albert Thompson, the man who was denied NHS treatment for his cancer due to his immigration status, has finally been given a date to receive radiotherapy.

The 63-year-old, whose case sparked the debate about the plight of the Windrush generation, had his treatment delayed by six months.

Mr Thompson – which is not his real name – was told he had to pay £54,000 to have radiotherapy if he could not prove he was in the country legally, despite having lived in the UK for 44 years.

Theresa May was forced to intervene and announced that Mr Thompson would “get the treatment he needs”.

He said he was “very excited” that his treatment would start on 1 May.

“They are scared of all the publicity in the media; it has really shaken them up,” Mr Thompson told The Guardian. “The Home Office has known about my problems for years. I think this is all down to the media noise.”

Mr Thompson's case has been widely publicised despite the fact he is not technically part of the so-called "Windrush generation" because he arrived in the UK after the Immigration Act came into force.

“I’m not quite happy yet, not until I get everything sorted. This has been a very scary time. At least I am still here to tell the story,” he added.

David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham, has been campaigning on behalf of the Windrush generation and questioned why it took so long to resolve the issue.

“Why has it taken newspaper exposes and questions at prime minister’s questions for Albert to get access to the NHS treatments he needs – as is his right?” Mr Lammy told The Guardian.

“Why has it taken so long for the government to act to address this Windrush scandal – shamed into finally doing so after dragging their feet for so many months?"