National Cancer Plan 2025-02-04

Welcomed the announcement of the AI trial for breast cancer but criticised the lack of a comprehensive plan. Questioned the government's commitment to the 62-day target for urgent referrals and waiting times, noting poor performance in NHS Wales under Labour administration. Raised concerns over sufficient trained professionals to interpret scan results effectively and financial support for charities hit by national insurance contributions.

Asked for clarity on the timing of publishing the national cancer plan and recommended using existing evidence to speed up its creation.

Acknowledged progress made over the past decade but noted slower rate compared to other countries. Promised a new national cancer plan through consultation with the sector, patients, and others. Emphasised the importance of research funding in areas like brain tumours. Defended current targets being met by NHS.

Announced a drug trial for glioblastoma brain tumours, highlighting the need for more research funding beyond community efforts. Criticised the lack of progress in research and treatment.

Called for further investment in radiotherapy machines to address health inequalities. Questioned timelines for restoring cancer targets and improving access to radiotherapy across all areas.

Asked the Minister to ensure an investigation into how pain relief management can be improved for cancer patients, ensuring it is available at weekends too.

Suggested using AI to retrospectively analyse historical tissue samples in the UK database to identify patterns that could inform future speedy diagnosis of cancers.

Asked about efforts to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as bloated tummy or lack of appetite, to increase early diagnosis rates.

Welcomed the reinstatement of the children and young people’s cancer taskforce, paying tribute to a constituent who played a pivotal role in its formation. Highlighted the high death rate among children due to cancer.

Asked about the transition from analogue to digital in cancer research, particularly for rare cancers like brain tumours.

Acknowledged the importance of moving to digital technology in advancing diagnoses and treatments for rarer cancers. Mentioned personal experience with his father's radiotherapy treatment.

Called for greater ambition from the Government regarding radiotherapy funding, citing a spending disparity compared to OECD averages.

Promised to attend Westminster Hall debate later but could not join the meeting in Room M. Recognised health inequalities and the need for increased access to radiotherapy treatments.

Noted significant health inequalities in his constituency, highlighted the work of Eccleshill community diagnostic centre, requested more support for such areas in the national action plan.

Commended efforts to tackle health inequalities and acknowledged the industrial legacy and higher smoking rates impacting cancer prevalence. Praised local diagnostics team's work.

Asked about introducing a routine prostate cancer screening programme.

Explained that current guidance does not recommend prostate cancer screening due to test inaccuracy but stated he was looking into it with the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Welcomed the plan, noted recent loss of a brother to high-grade acinic cell carcinoma. Asked about rare cancers research.

Sent condolences for Fenton-Glynn's brother and confirmed that rarer cancers would be crucial in the national cancer plan, focusing on diagnosis, treatment, and research.

Asked about reviewing routine breast cancer screenings for women under 50. Invited attendees to her drop-in event on local health inequalities in breast cancer.

Acknowledged Hobhouse's work and stated that decisions on whom to screen are made by the UK national screening committee but committed officials to look into whether screenings could be given earlier for younger women.

Shared a personal story about Ethan, who passed away from a brain tumour. Asked the Minister to commit to improving outcomes for people with brain tumours through the national cancer plan.

Passed condolences on behalf of Swallow and committed to incorporating brain tumour improvements in the national cancer plan, utilising latest technological advances.

Welcomed Minister's commitment to radiotherapy machine upgrading but asked about ambition for minimally invasive cancer therapies and emerging technologies.

Acknowledged rapid advancements in technology and stated that minimally invasive therapies would be part of the national cancer plan, consulting on existing and emerging technologies.

Discussed health inequalities impacting cancer diagnosis and treatment. Asked how to tackle these alongside the national cancer plan.

Stated that tackling health inequalities is part of the health mission, including for conditions like cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer in poorer communities.

Asked about discussions with the pharmaceutical sector regarding the national cancer plan.

Acknowledged importance of pharma sector and stated there have been roundtables to support life sciences growth in Britain, making it easier for clinical trials.

Minister for Cancer stated the Government’s commitment to improving cancer outcomes through early diagnosis, better treatment options, and increased research. He also committed to meeting with campaigners like Lorraine Hargreaves.

Asked the Minister to commit to being a critical friend of NICE to ensure both good value for taxpayers and good access for patients regarding new medicines.

Asked the Minister about less survivable cancers, emphasising the need for a concerted effort on these forms of cancer to improve outcomes.

Discussed loss of office manager Susan Hall to lymphoma and queried progress on funding hospices across the UK more fairly. The Minister responded positively, indicating that issues raised by community care and hospice sectors will be addressed.

Highlighted the difficulties women face in getting GP support regarding health issues and asked about using AI to speed up scan result times at George Eliot Hospital, which has seen a 12% wait time for MRI results.

Asked the Minister to meet him and Mike Nesbitt regarding Northern Ireland’s 10-year cancer strategy that was launched but stalled after the fall of the Northern Ireland Executive. The Minister agreed to meet with both.

Welcomed the statement as offering hope for increased survival rates and questioned whether areas most challenged would receive support to improve outcomes, which was confirmed by the Minister.

Thanked the team at Dorset cancer centre for her step-mum's exceptional treatment and raised concerns about inconsistent healthcare services. The Minister acknowledged inconsistency issues in NHS service levels.

Welcomed the Minister’s statement on smoking causing one out of four cancers, supporting the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine and tobacco.

Brought up a constituent's experience waiting two years for diagnosis and another 10 weeks for identification of cancer type, leading to an incurable condition. She asked about improving coordination between different parts of the NHS.

Discussed dismal survival rates for leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia, asking if measures would be included in the national cancer plan to improve these statistics.

Concerned about people living more than 45 minutes away from a radiotherapy centre. Highlighted that eight out of 10 radiotherapists have considered leaving the profession. Asked for Government measures to retain and recruit radiotherapists.

Expressed gratitude towards Minister's statement and discussed his private Member’s Bill, the Rare Cancers Bill. Highlighted the need to have the voices of rare cancer patients at the heart of consultations for the national cancer plan.

Discussed fundraising efforts in Cheltenham general hospital, highlighting the need for £17.5 million and mentioned a charity fundraiser leading the charge on fundraising efforts. Asked Minister to meet with fundraisers.

Welcomed Government efforts but pointed out issues of patients waiting several months for scan procedures due to lack of collaborative working and communication in health system, asked how existing systems can be improved.

Declared an interest with family member who has shares in a medical company. Paid tribute to the Minister's promise for a national cancer plan and suggested meeting with Cancer Research UK representative Shaun Walsh to discuss next steps.

Welcomed statement, expressed concern about prevention of cancer due to lifestyle factors such as alcohol harms, smoking, obesity, inactivity and air quality. Asked Minister if the national cancer plan would consider actions for prevention.

Brought up issues of data sharing between NHS England and Wales, asking for assurances that Welsh patients' data will follow them home after treatment in English hospitals.

Expressed concern about rare cancers being forgotten in the national cancer plan. Asked Minister to ensure all cancers are an integral part of the national cancer plan.

Asked for more funding for cancer research and highlighted specific research at Queen's University Belfast. Also inquired about Northern Ireland being one of 30 testing sites for women's cancer research.

Discussed personal experience with the loss of his grandmother to cancer, highlighting importance of early detection and ensuring that women are taken seriously when visiting their GP. Mentioned support from a local celebrity for the radiography department.

The speaker commends the Minister for a recent announcement which is welcome and needed. He asks about the impact of the plan on shifting from sickness to prevention, hospital to community, and analogue to digital.

The speaker supports the idea of putting together shifts from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. He believes this will improve health and care delivery in the country by driving up standards across the system, reducing waiting times, shortening waiting lists, improving outcomes for cancer patients, and saving lives.