Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cancer Diagnoses

Tuesday 17 June 2025 · 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 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Minister highlighted the 70 million investment in state-of-the-art linear accelerator machines to improve cancer treatments in Southend hospital.
  • Paulette Hamilton raised the importance of early diagnosis of less survivable cancers and inquired about the Government's assessment of the all-party parliamentary group's report on earlier detection and faster diagnosis.
  • Alison Bennett mentioned a constituent's delayed radiotherapy treatment, emphasizing the need for swift cancer treatment alongside diagnosis.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bayo Alaba Ind Southend East and Rochford
NHS
Context

The Minister for Secondary Care was questioned about steps to reduce cancer diagnosis times. Mr Alaba highlights the investment in a new linear accelerator machine in Southend Hospital.

Question

Our Labour Government have recently invested in a new state-of-the-art linear accelerator machine in Southend hospital. The machine is the first of its type in the country and will drastically improve cancer treatments. Please can the Minister outline how record levels of investment, such as in the LINAC machine and as announced at the spending review, will finally mean that the NHS will be there when we need it?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

I am delighted that my hon. Friend’s constituents will benefit from the £70 million investment. These machines are game changing and will reduce the number of visits for his constituents. They are also more reliable, which gives more capacity to the system. That is better for staff, as there will be less appointment cancellations. That is exactly the sort of thing we want to see more of, and we are delivering that under this Government. It is the result of our drive to reduce long waits and treat more people quicker. That was reinforced in last week’s spending review, and it is exactly what his constituents deserve.

Answered
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Q2 Paulette Hamilton Lab Birmingham Erdington
NHS
Context

The Minister for Secondary Care was questioned about steps to reduce cancer diagnosis times. Ms Hamilton references a report by the all-party parliamentary group on less survivable cancers.

Question

Early diagnosis of less survivable cancers is vital if survival rates are to improve. What assessment has the Department made of the report by the all-party parliamentary group on less survivable cancers that looks at earlier detection and faster diagnosis, and what steps are the Department taking to deliver on this?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

My hon. Friend is right to highlight that issue. I commend her great work not just on the APPG but on leading the Health and Social Care Committee on behalf of its Chair, the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran). She is right to highlight that it is a priority for the Government to diagnose cancers earlier and improve survival rates. That is particularly important for the group of people with rare cancers. The APPG’s report will inform the development of our national cancer plan, which will seek to include all aspects of care throughout the entirety of the cancer pathway.

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Q3 Alison Bennett Lib Dem Mid Sussex
NHS
Context

The Minister for Secondary Care was questioned about steps to reduce cancer diagnosis times. Ms Bennett shares a constituent's experience of delayed radiotherapy after breast cancer diagnosis.

Question

Part of a successful cancer journey is swift cancer treatment as well as swift diagnosis. My constituent Catherine was diagnosed last year with stage 3 breast cancer. She had a mastectomy and went through chemotherapy. She was then meant to begin a course of radiotherapy in December, but as of May that still had not begun. What can the Department do to ensure that those unacceptable delays do not happen and lives can be saved?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

Many hon. Members across the House rightly highlight the actual experience of people throughout the entire pathway. We have heard about the investment we are making in machines and in staff to ensure, on exactly this point, that people get not just that faster diagnosis—that is so important, particularly if cancer is ruled out—but faster care across the entire pathway. The majority of people on waiting lists are on them for diagnostics, which is exactly why we are investing more in capital and investing in staff to ensure that the process is quicker and better for patients. If the hon. Member wants to write to me about any particular issues, I will obviously respond to her.

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Q4 Tom Gordon Lib Dem Harrogate and Knaresborough
NHS
Context

The Minister for Secondary Care was questioned about steps to reduce cancer diagnosis times. Mr Gordon mentions a report by Yorkshire Cancer Research with key recommendations.

Question

Every 17 minutes, someone in Yorkshire is told that they have cancer. Tomorrow, I will be launching a report for Yorkshire Cancer Research, which is based in my constituency, that will set out key recommendations. Will the Minister meet us to talk about how we can feed them into the national cancer plan?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

The work that the hon. Member is doing locally with that group is essential. I will ensure that we have a good response for him, whether it is meeting me or a colleague.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting specifically to discuss incorporating local recommendations into the national cancer plan was not confirmed in full detail

How: Will Ensure, Essential

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