Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the outcomes of pancreatic cancer diagnoses in line with the NHS England 2015 cancer strategy.

The 2015 cancer strategy set ambitions for higher survival and improved patient experience and quality of life for all cancer patients, including pancreatic cancer patients. The NHS Long Term Plan takes forward those ambitions, stating that by 2028 three in four cancers will be diagnosed at an early stage and 55,000 more people will survive their cancer for five years or more.

Over the last two years, NHS England have allocated over £200 million funding through their Cancer Alliances for earlier diagnosis and personalised care. In addition, £130 million funding has been invested in over 80 new or replacement linear accelerators in the modernisation of radiotherapy services.

NHS England will shortly be introducing a Faster Diagnostic Standard of 28 days for all cancer patients, including those with pancreatic cancer, which when taken together with the 62-day referral to treatment standard, will mean that all patients should expect to start their treatment within 34 days of diagnosis. This is a maximum, and trusts should continue to treat patients more quickly particularly where there is a strong clinical need.