Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce a requirement for patients diagnosed with incurable cancer to receive a written care and treatment plan prior to discharge from hospital.

It is unacceptable for cancer patients to be discharged without a clear plan for treatment, pain management plan, or identified care coordinator, especially when they are told their cancer is incurable.

This year, the National Health Service in England will ensure that every patient will receive a personalised assessment of their needs, personal cancer plan, and end of treatment summary. The Government and the NHS will also work with the royal colleges to deliver a clear and consistent basis for services that support people to live well with cancer during or after treatment, including acute oncology and supportive oncology. I refer the Hon. Member to chapter 4 of the Department’s National Cancer Plan available at the link below, which examines these and other issues in detail:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e752206e7256c331df866/national-cancer-plan-for-england-delivering-world-class-cancer-care.pdf