Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of cuts to Integrated Care Board funding on cancer patients in the East Midlands.

In the recently published National Cancer Plan, we set out our commitment to meet all three cancer waiting time standards to ensure that all cancer patients, including those in the East Midlands, have timely access to high quality diagnostic and treatment services.

Our commitment to meeting the cancer waiting time standards will be supported by a £6 billion capital investment into diagnostics which will increase capacity, boost productivity, and streamline diagnostic pathways. This vital investment will modernise diagnostic services and reduce the time between initial diagnosis and starting treatment.

The plan also lays out how we will increase productivity and harness innovation to make systems more efficient and effective. We will utilise new tools such as artificial intelligence and liquid biopsy testing to speed up diagnosis and treatment decisions, strengthen the cancer workforce, improve turnaround times in histopathology, and give targeted support to the most challenged trusts.

Savings on integrated care board (ICB) spending on back-office costs will be reinvested into patient care, including cancer care, which will remain the primary focus of ICB funding and investment. National Health Service regions and Cancer Alliances will jointly identify underperforming trusts and provide intensive support including leadership intervention, peer‑to‑peer mentoring, seconding senior managers from stronger trusts, and access to £200 million of ring‑fenced cancer funding in 2026/27 to improve cancer pathway performance and reduce delays.