Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the National Cancer Plan will support the screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in a) Broxtowe constituency, b) the East Midlands and c) England.

The National Cancer Plan will be published shortly and will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from prevention and screening through early diagnosis, treatment, ongoing care, research and innovation.

Early diagnosis is a key focus of the plan. We will support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer earlier and treat it faster, including through improved access to screening programmes, increased diagnostic capacity, and the continued roll-out of effective diagnostic pathways. The plan will also address access to effective and timely cancer treatment.

Reducing geographical inequalities in cancer outcomes is a central priority of the National Cancer Plan. The plan will look at targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival related to socioeconomic status, geography, and other factors. It will set out how we will work with the NHS and partner organisations to ensure high-quality cancer care is available consistently across the country, including in areas that currently experience poorer outcomes.

Through this national approach, the National Cancer Plan will support improvements in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for patients in Broxtowe, across the East Midlands, and throughout England.