Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the Major Conditions Strategy reflects the (a) views and (b) needs of people with lived experience of cancer as a young adult.

Cancer is a priority for this Government and the Department continues to take steps to demonstrate this. Childhood, young people’s and young adults’ cancers are included within the Department’s Major Conditions Strategy, which tackles contributions contributing most to morbidity and mortality.

While the Department cannot pre-empt its outcomes, the Major Conditions Strategy’s final report scheduled for early 2024 will draw on previous work, including submissions from childhood, young people and young adults’ cancer charities and stakeholders in response to our calls for evidence on cancer and on major conditions. The emphasis is on earlier diagnosis, better support to manage conditions, and improved coordination of treatment and care.

The Department is engaging with several stakeholders in the development of the Major Conditions Strategy including organisations that represent the needs and care of people with lived experience of cancer.