Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the APPG on Radiotherapy’s event in Parliament due to prior commitments, however, I recognise the continuing challenge provided to Government and NHS to urgently reduce waiting times for radiotherapy treatment and improve access across the UK.
The Prime Minister has made it clear that one of the top priorities for the Government is to see waiting lists for cancer treatment and care, including radiotherapy, significantly reduced over the next few years. During 2023, the Government provided funding to help recover cancer services, and a plan that outlines how that funding will be spent effectively.
It is right that this funding comes with high expectations for reducing cancer waiting times. The NHS has set an ambition for 75 per cent of patients who have been urgently referred by their GP for suspected cancer to be diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days. Some progress is being made towards diagnosing patients earlier, with the NHS meeting the Faster Diagnosis Standard for suspected cancer for the first time in February 2023. However, more progress is needed, given the APPG on Radiotherapy’s recent report has highlighted that just 17 NHS providers in England are meeting the target for patients to start radiotherapy treatment within 31 days.
Tackling major conditions that cause ill-health - including cancer - provides an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people. That is why a Major Conditions Strategy is being developed to outline how outcomes in six major condition areas will be improved, including all cancers.
In the meantime, I understand that the payment arrangements for radiotherapy have been reviewed to ensure providers can increase access to new treatments and upgrade and replace equipment. These arrangements came into effect in April 2023. Reinforced by £6 billion of capital investment in the 2021 Spending Review, the NHS is also gradually reducing the number of linear accelerators aged 10 years or over with the Government having invested around £162 million since 2016 to upgrade or replace around 100 radiotherapy machines. However, I fully recognise that many patients continue to face challenges in accessing the treatment they need.
The Government is also implementing a delivery plan for tackling the elective care backlogs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Ministers will spend more than £8 billion between now and 2024-25 to drive up elective activity, including cancer diagnosis and treatment. On top of this, £21 million of funding has been announced to roll out AI across the NHS, which will help to improve diagnosis and to reduce waiting times for cancer care.
Let me assure you that I share the commitment of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign to see waiting lists for cancer treatment and care to be reduced over the next few years.
