Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the findings of the recent National Cancer Diagnosis Audit with respect to improving the time taken to diagnose (a) lymphoma and (b) other haematological cancers.

The National Cancer Diagnosis Audit (NCDA) provides useful insight into the process of diagnosis of cancer. This report has been shared with the relevant NHS England Clinical Reference Groups (CRG) and will influence the work of the CRGs in improving clinical pathways and services.

No specific assessment has been made of the NCDA in relation to time taken to diagnose lymphoma and other haematological cancers or with respect to improving the process for diagnosing cancer in children and young people. However, it will be helpful in informing the current work on revising service specifications for children and young people.