Government to publish a National Cancer Plan, as recommended by Health and Social Care Committee
19 December 2024
The Government has said that it will be publishing a National Cancer Plan, as recommended by the predecessor Health and Social Care Committee.
- Health and Social Care Committee
- Correspondence from the Secretary of State responding to the Committee’s Future Cancer Inquiry
Before the dissolution of the last Parliament, the Committee wrote to the Department of Health and Social Care on 23 May 2024, to set out its findings from its Future Cancer inquiry, which explored innovations in cancer diagnosis and treatment, examining and identifying key issues which impede progress on cancer care in the UK.
In its letter, the Committee had said that it was ‘a mistake to abandon the 10 Year Cancer Plan’, and it called on the Government to commit ‘to the redevelopment and publication of a long-term strategy for cancer which has innovation at its core’.
In his response to the Committee’s letter published today, the Health and Social Care Secretary, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, states that the Department ‘will be publishing a National Cancer Plan’ and is ‘currently working on what form this plan will take and how it is aligned with the conclusions of the 10 Year Health Plan’.
The Health Secretary says he will update the Committee on the progress of the National Cancer Plan in due course.
The Committee’s letter in May detailed a range of other findings and made recommendations relating to research, workforce, the adoption and scaling up of innovations in the field, access to treatments, collaboration and regulation and commercialisation.
In its response, the Department commits to setting out details on the allocation of funding for surgical hubs, scanners and additional beds and equipment, including how many surgical hubs will be established. In the meantime, Mr Streeting sets out the steps the Department is taking to support NHS performance and address the preventative causes of cancers.
Chair's comment
The Chair of the Committee, Layla Moran MP, said:
“Our predecessor Committee warned that the current system of cancer care seemed ‘preoccupied with ‘firefighting’ immediate issues’ rather than looking to the future. It called for the redevelopment and publication of a long-term strategy for cancer with innovation at its core.
“It is encouraging to see this response from the new Secretary of State and his stated commitment to a new cancer strategy. As a Committee, we look forward to scrutinising the details of the Government’s National Cancer Plan.”
Further information
Image: House of Commons