Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that all pancreatic cancer patients have access to dietetic treatment, advice and support; and if he will make a statement.

NHS England has a published a service specification for pancreatic cancer which clearly defines what it expects to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective pancreatic cancer services. This service specification has been developed by specialised clinicians, commissioners, expert patients and public health representatives to describe core and developmental service standards.

The service specification sets out that all patients with upper gastrointestinal disease (including pancreatic cancer) are at risk of dietary problems and should have access to full dietetic inpatient and outpatient services. Dieticians should be available to see patients during regular outpatient clinics and be available for consultation on ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings.

The full service specification can be found at:

http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/a02-cncr-panc.pdf