Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to increase public and health professionals' awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours.

Improving early diagnosis of all cancer is a priority for this Government however the Department recognises that diagnosis of brain tumours can present certain challenges in general practice. As such, the Department supports the work of HeadSmart in increasing awareness of symptoms that might be brain cancer. As well as making the National Health Service in England aware of the benefits of HeadSmart, the Department has highlighted its benefits with Directors of Public Health, health visitors and school nurses, to encourage their use by professionals in signposting to specialist advice if needed. Further information is available at:

https://www.headsmart.org.uk/

Public Health England (PHE) works closely with the Department and NHS England to ensure that health care professionals are also targeted with Be Clear on Cancer campaign information to encourage earlier diagnoses and referrals. PHE also works closely with the devolved administrations to ensure consistency of messages in their own campaigns and initiatives.