Oral Answers to Questions

David Morris Excerpts

Tuesday 15th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

It is my job, and that is why the Government have protected the NHS budget. The hon. Gentleman’s Front-Bench team, on the other hand, want to cut it in real terms. He has to think carefully before he starts talking about all these so-called cuts, given that his shadow Health spokesman wants to cut the NHS budget in real terms. [Interruption.] That is what he said last December. I agree with the Care Quality Commission that it is totally unacceptable for hospitals to have unsafe staffing levels. The commission also said, however, that budgets and financial issues were not an excuse, because those budget pressures existed throughout the NHS and many hospitals were able to deliver excellent care despite them.

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to improve the survival rates of cancer, stroke and heart disease patients.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

Our cancer strategy set out the ambition to save 5,000 lives by 2014-15 through earlier diagnosis, cancer screening and improved access to treatment. We are working on an outcomes strategy for cardiovascular disease.

[David Morris]

Will my right hon. Friend tell the House how many patients have benefited from the cancer drugs fund to date?