Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cancer Diagnosis

Tuesday 24 February 2026 · 3 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

  • Labour MP Douglas McAllister inquired about avoidable delays in leukaemia diagnosis affecting one in four patients and 37% diagnosed through emergency settings.
  • The government responded by highlighting efforts to improve GPs' ability to recognize early symptoms and interpret blood test results, and plans to introduce genomic testing at birth.
  • James Wild questioned the delays in starting treatment for local patients at Big C in King's Lynn, noting only 52% are treated within two months compared to a national average of 71.9%.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
NHS
Context

The number of patients diagnosed with cancer or receiving all-clear on time has increased under Labour, but there are still concerns about delays and emergency diagnoses.

Question

I am concerned that despite progress, one in four leukaemia patients face an avoidable delay in diagnosis, and 37% are diagnosed through an emergency setting. Research by Leukaemia UK highlights these issues. How will the national cancer plan address such delays specifically for leukaemia?

Answer from Wes Streeting

We are working with GPs to improve their preparedness in spotting symptoms or concerning blood test results for early diagnosis. Additionally, we aim to introduce genomic testing at birth to catch rare cancers like leukaemia early or prevent them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps beyond general initiatives and did not address the emergency route issue directly.

How: We Are Working With Gps

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Q2 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
NHS
Context

An additional £2.3 billion is being invested for more diagnostic capacity and earlier cancer detection.

Question

We welcome the focus on faster diagnosis across all cancers, especially leukaemia where 37% of patients are diagnosed through an emergency setting due to avoidable delays according to Leukaemia UK research. How will the national cancer plan address these specific issues?

Answer from Wes Streeting

We are collaborating with GPs for better symptom recognition and blood test result interpretation, aiming to cut avoidable delays. The introduction of genomic testing at birth will help early detection or prevention of rare cancers like leukaemia.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete steps beyond general statements on improving GP preparedness and introducing genomic testing.

How: We Are Working With Gps

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Q3 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
NHS
Context

The Queen Elizabeth hospital trust in King's Lynn has a cancer treatment performance rate of only 52%, compared to the national average of 71.9%. This causes significant anxiety among patients.

Question

I recently met Big C in King's Lynn and learned that local patients receive faster diagnosis but face delays in starting treatment, with only 52% treated within two months while the national average is 71.9%. What action will be taken to improve this trust's performance?

Answer from Wes Streeting

The faster diagnosis standard has been met with a December 2025 performance of 77.4%, aiming for 80% by March end. We acknowledge the shortcomings in timely treatment commencement, and we will address these issues to ensure more rapid progress.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions or timeline for improving access to cancer treatment beyond acknowledging current performance and future aims.

How: We Are Meeting The Faster Diagnosis Standard

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