Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to support people who have been diagnosed with leukaemia.

The Department has taken steps to ensure that the National Health Service prioritises cancer treatment, including leukaemia. The NHS Long Term Plan states that, where appropriate, every person diagnosed with cancer will have access to personalised care, including needs assessment, a care plan and health and wellbeing information and support. This includes provision of end of treatment summaries, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer. To support delivery of our cancer care priorities, including expanding treatment capacity across NHS hospital trusts, NHS England is providing over £390 million in cancer service development funding to Cancer Alliances.

More treatment is happening, with over 335,000 people receiving their first cancer treatment in the 12 months leading up to June 2023, representing an increase of more than 22,000 on the same period pre-pandemic. More information on cancer waiting times is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

We are committed to ensuring that all cancer patients get access to interventions, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person.