Thank you for contacting me about Macmillan Cancer Support’s coffee morning on Thursday 23 October.
I am grateful for the work of Macmillan Cancer Support in our local community and across the country, and would be interested in receiving a briefing with constituency data and the charity’s views about the National Cancer Plan.
I am proud that the UK is a world leader in cancer research, with a combination of charity, industry and Government funding helping to ensure that we can continue to improve survival rates and quality of life of cancer patients.
On waiting times, I share your urgency that we must make progress in reducing the time taken to diagnose and treat cancer across England. The NHS has stated it will be a priority to meet the 62-day and 28-day Faster Diagnosis standards during 2025/26.
The Government has committed to double the number of NHS CT and MRI scanners for diagnosing cancer and other conditions, but provided very few details about how these measures will be implemented in practice. Ministers must provide greater clarity over the coming months in the upcoming 10-Year NHS Plan and National Cancer Plan.
Before the General Election, a Major Conditions Strategy was being developed to focus on how we can develop new treatments and diagnose cancer earlier to improve survival rates and the quality of life for everyone living with the disease.
The current Government has chosen not to proceed with this strategy, and it is vital that the planned 10-Year NHS Plan and National Cancer Plan prioritises accelerating cancer research, as well as improving access to innovative cancer treatment and care.