Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Harding review will address the shortage of clinical nurse specialists for people undergoing cancer treatment.

The NHS Long Term Plan set out that by 2021, where appropriate, every person diagnosed with cancer will have access to personalised care, including needs assessment, a care plan and health and wellbeing information and support. All patients, including those with secondary cancers, will have access to the right expertise and support, including a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or other support worker.

In the 2017 Cancer Patient Experience Survey, 91% of patients reported having access to a CNS.