Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to (a) monitor variation in access to bispecific therapies for myeloma patients between hospitals and (b) ensure eligible patients are receiving these treatments.

The Department has now published the National Cancer Plan. It sets out our ambition to become a global leader in cancer survival and provides details of how we will comprehensively improve cancer care in all parts of the country. We will work to end the postcode lottery to ensure that access to the best cancer diagnosis, treatment and care is available for everyone, including those with myeloma.

NHS England commissions specialised cancer treatments and works with providers to support consistent access across the country. Where a treatment is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, commissioners and providers are responsible for making the funding available to enable eligible patients to access it, where clinically appropriate.

Treatment for cancer is highly individualised and decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals. They consider all aspects of a patient's health and circumstances when recommending treatment options. While certain treatments may not be advised for some patients, these decisions are based on medical assessments and what's best for the individual's overall health and well-being.