Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help ensure that leukaemia patients have equal access to a clinical nurse specialist from the point of diagnosis to enable chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients on active monitoring to receive tailored support.

Officials are analysing the responses received to the call for evidence to develop the 10 Year Cancer Plan. The Plan will set out how we will improve cancer services and further details will be available in due course.

The NHS Long Term Plan stated that by 2021, 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. NHS England and NHS Improvement are ensuring every patient has access to a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). In 2021/22, Health Education England invested an additional £52 million to develop the cancer and diagnostics workforce, including providing training opportunities to 754 existing and aspiring CNS. The 2019 Cancer Patient Experience Survey found that 89% of approximately 10,000 respondents with haematological cancers reported that they received a named CNS to support them through their treatment.

Data from Cancer Alliances in March 2021 showed that approximately 83% of all cancer multi-disciplinary teams had implemented personalised care and support planning based on holistic needs assessments. In addition, Cancer Alliances have been asked to review mental health provision as part of the 2022/23 planning guidance. NHS England and NHS Improvement are also supporting adults experiencing cancer through Improving Access to Psychological Therapies mental health services.