Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cancer Treatment Waiting Times

Tuesday 17 October 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministers acknowledge the rise in cancer patients not receiving timely care since the Conservatives took power.
  • NHS England has instructed integrated care boards to increase diagnostic and treatment capacity for cancer.
  • The response includes recognition of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
NHS
Context

The number of cancer patients not getting care on time rose every year before the pandemic under Conservative rule, according to the questioner.

Question

Ministers have a tendency to blame covid for increased waiting times, including in respect of cancer. I presume they are aware that the number of cancer patients not getting care on time rose in every year since the Conservatives came to power before the pandemic. How can the Government defend that dreadful record?

Answer from Will Quince

We are continuing to support NHS England in increasing cancer treatment capacity. As I say, I recognise the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. NHS England has instructed integrated care boards to increase and prioritise the diagnostic and treatment capacity for cancer. As of the middle of this year, we have 93 additional surgical hubs that are currently operational and 123 additional community diagnostic centres, which have delivered more than 5 million additional tests since July 2021, but we know and recognise that we need to do more.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific pre-pandemic increase in waiting times was not addressed.

How: We Know And Recognise That We Need To Do More

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Q2 Paulette Hamilton Lab Birmingham Erdington
NHS
Context

The number of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in England is high, and the mortality rate within three months after diagnosis is over 50%.

Question

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest type of common cancer, killing more than half of those diagnosed in England within three months. I know the pain of losing close friends and family to pancreatic cancer and how important it is that people are diagnosed and treated quickly. Under this Government we have seen NHS waiting lists go up, not down. What is the Minister doing to ensure that people with pancreatic cancer are seen, diagnosed and treated quickly?

Answer from Will Quince

I thank the hon. Lady for her question, and, of course, I recognise the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Cancer checks are up by a quarter on pre-pandemic levels, and in August more than 91% of patients started their first cancer treatment within a month of a decision to treat. We have opened 123 additional community diagnostic centres and an additional 94 surgical hubs, but I accept, of course, that there is much more that we need to do.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions for pancreatic cancer were not addressed, only general statements about cancer treatment in general.

How: I Recognise The Importance Of Early Diagnosis And Treatment.

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Q3 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
NHS
Context

BMA strikes have led to the loss of over 1 million appointments, delayed scans reporting including for cancer patients, and disrupted chronic long-term condition treatment.

Question

Members will know from my entry in the Register of Members' Financial Interests that I am an NHS consultant and a member of the British Medical Association. I congratulate the Minister on the work he is doing to reduce waiting lists, but BMA strikes have led to the loss of more than 1 million appointments, have delayed the reporting of scans, including scans for cancer, and have disrupted people's chronic long-term condition treatment. What is he doing to ensure that there are no further strikes? What talks is he having on minimum service levels to expand the provision if further strikes do take place?

Answer from Will Quince

I thank my hon. Friend for her question, which is better directed at the BMA. However, she is right to suggest that we are taking action on minimum service level legislation. We recognise that industrial action means that services are under increased pressure, with appointments and treatments being cancelled because of the strikes. The NHS is taking action, prioritising urgent and cancer care, and will of course continue to do so. It will do its best to maintain appointments and elective procedures, wherever possible, but she is right to say that these strikes and the actions of the BMA are having a devastating impact on patients.

Not addressed: The question was about specific steps to prevent future strikes and minimum service levels; the answer shifted focus to current NHS efforts.

How: She Is Right To Suggest That We Are Taking Action On Minimum Service Level Legislation.

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Q4 Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham
NHS
Context

A constituent with stage 4 lung cancer needs Enhertu, a drug available on NHS for breast cancer but not lung cancer, costing £10,000 monthly without which she will die. A public petition has received over 200,000 signatures.

Question

My constituent Elaine Lynch was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in September 2021. The drug she needs, Enhertu, is available free on the NHS to treat breast cancer, but not lung cancer, so it is costing my constituent £10,000 a month to get the treatment, without which she will die. The public petition on this matter has received more than 200,000 signatures, so it is very much in the public interest. As the company Daiichi Sankyo does not offer the drug on compassionate grounds, will the Minister meet me to see how we can make this drug available for Elaine as soon as possible, because this is literally a matter of life or death?

Answer from Will Quince

I have huge sympathy and empathy with the case that my hon. Friend raises. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is rightly independent, and strict and robust processes are in place on drug repurposing and clinical trials. Nevertheless, I would of course be happy to meet him to see what can be done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to making Enhertu available for lung cancer patients.

How: The National Institute For Health And Care Excellence Is Rightly Independent.

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