Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Pancreatic Cancer UK's finding that half of people with pancreatic cancer in England are prescribed pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), what assessment he has made of (a) the reason that half of people with pancreatic cancer are not prescribed that treatment and (b) the adequacy of prescription rates compared with NICE guidelines on PERT.

Information on the proportion of pancreatic cancer patients in England prescribed with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is not available in the format requested.

No assessment has been made of rates of prescription of PERT, though we recognise that its use in the treatment of pancreatic cancer can improve patients’ ability recover from treatment and their quality of life. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer describes best practice in the care and treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer, including supporting their nutritional needs. Whilst National Health Service organisations and clinicians should take guidelines and quality standards into account, it is the responsibility of clinicians to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of each patient.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have commissioned an audit into pancreatic cancer and continue to work with Prostate Cancer UK to raise awareness of PERT, including sharing guidance with Cancer Alliances.