Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of covid-19-related staff absence by (a) illness and (b) diversions on cancer treatment.

The Department is monitoring the rate of COVID-19 related staff absence.

Essential and urgent cancer treatments are continuing. The National Health Service is adapting how it runs its cancer services to ensure the safety of both patients and staff – this includes establishing dedicated cancer hubs for urgent treatment and diagnosis. Cancer specialist teams are discussing treatment and care with patients, including the potential risks to them, either through undergoing or to delay treatment at this time. Medical staff will always have the safety of patients at the centre of any decisions they make.