Oral Answers to Questions

Josh Newbury Excerpts

Tuesday 25th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)]

8. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of health services for men.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)]

May I first commend my hon. Friend not just on leading the recent International Men’s Day debate, but on his courage in speaking so openly about his own experience of sexual assault and the need to tackle the stigma surrounding it? [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] For too long, men’s health has been overlooked, with a reluctance to accept that men suffer specific inequalities and hardships as men and boys. We know that men are less likely to come forward for healthcare. From partnering with the Premier League to rolling out health support in the workplace, we are meeting men and boys where they are and supporting them to live longer, healthier lives.

[Josh Newbury]

The publication of the first ever men’s health strategy for England was a historic step forward, including the drive to improve care for men with prostate cancer, the most common form of cancer in men under 50. I place on record my admiration for the right hon. Lord Cameron for speaking publicly about his diagnosis and successful treatment. The commitment to expanding home-based testing and remote monitoring is welcome, but can the Secretary of State tell the House what the Department will do to increase awareness and access to testing among the men most at risk, including those under 50?

[Wes Streeting]

I join my hon. Friend in commending Lord Cameron on his openness. Raising awareness, as we know, encourages men to come forward and leads to more diagnosis. He has done a great public service in talking about his own experience. We are improving care for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergoing active monitoring or treatment. We will be introducing support for individuals who are on prostate cancer active monitoring pathways to enable them to order and complete prostate-specific antigen blood tests at home from 2027. As for screening and the case being made for targeted screening, I await the recommendations of the National Screening Committee. We will study those carefully. We know that this is contested within the sector, so it is important that we have an evidence-based discussion, thrash out the arguments and reach the right way forward.