Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to (a) improve childhood cancer diagnosis times and (b) raise awareness of child cancer symptoms through dedicated resources for both GPs and parents.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provides guidance for general practitioners (GPs) on the symptoms of cancer in children. The Royal College of General Practitioners sets the training curriculum for GPs which states that in order to demonstrate the core competences in the care of children and young people, GPs should be aware of the early presenting symptoms of childhood cancers. Children’s cancer services are contained in 14 specialist principal treatment centres. A child with suspected cancer should be referred directly to a centre, which will make the diagnosis and direct the provision of treatment.

There are no specific plans to raise awareness of childhood cancer symptoms through dedicated resources for parents.