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 increase the availability of hospital beds for teenagers and young adults undergoing cancer treatment.

Cancer treatment for teenagers and young adults is complex and intensive, with many patients requiring a high level of support. As a result, and as set out in NHS England's service specifications, hospitals providing specialist cancer services for teenagers and young adults must ensure that there are sufficient dedicated facilities for teenagers and young adults with cancer, including for inpatient and day care.

The Department and NHS England are taking action to increase capacity for all elective and cancer services, including those for teenagers and young adults.

In 2025/26, the Department will invest an extra £22.6 billion in day-to-day spending compared to 2023/24. The investment will support the National Health Service to deliver the elective target and to deliver capacity for 30,000 more procedures and over £1.25 million diagnostics tests as they come online, alongside additional beds to help bring waiting lists down, reduce waiting times, and shift more care into the community.