Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to long-term support services for people living with rare cancers.

Rare and less common cancers are a priority for the Government, and earlier this year the Department published the first National Cancer Plan to include a dedicated chapter on rare cancers. The Department is committed to ensuring that access to support services is available for people living with rare cancers.

Starting in 2026, every person diagnosed with cancer, including rare cancers, will receive a personalised assessment of need and a personal cancer plan. Support will be tailored to individual mental, physical, and social health needs, such as employment and financial support.

The Department and NHS England are also working with rare cancer charities to strengthen support for patients, including connecting patients with specialist charities, peer communities, and expert sources of advice through the planned rollout of the Diagnosis Connect programme.

To ensure commitments for rare cancer patients are actioned, a National Clinical Lead for rare cancers will be appointed with a remit to speak up for all rare cancers, and to provide clinical advice and support for the delivery of the actions in the National Cancer Plan. They will sit on the National Cancer Board which will provide specialist input to address issues within the cancer system and drive real progress, including for long term support services.