Cancer Therapies Access

Baroness Meacher Excerpts

Monday 6th February 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, I can assure the noble Baroness that the new major conditions strategy will set out a strong and coherent policy agenda that sets out a shift to integrate whole-person care. Interventions set out in the strategy will aim to alleviate pressure on the health system as well as support the Government’s objective of increasing healthy-life expectancy and reducing ill-health-related labour market inactivity. We will cover the patient pathway from prevention to treatment and set out the standards patients should expect in the short term and over a five-year lifetime. Many stakeholders have already responded to the Government’s call for evidence on cancer.

[Baroness Meacher (CB)]

My Lords, we now know that there are drugs that attack cancer cells directly, without damaging the surrounding tissue. These literally non-invasive treatments are available to some, but can the Minister assure the House that these drugs are now available to every trust throughout the country?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, I do not have a specific answer to that question, but I can certainly respond in writing.