Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the number of patients presenting with advanced cancer symptoms; and what steps his Department is taking to respond to a potential increase in the number of patients presenting with advanced cancer symptoms as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

It is too soon to say whether more patients are presenting with symptoms of advanced cancer. The National Health Service continues to monitor referral rates and emergency presentations.

Many areas in England have set up ‘cancer hubs’ to coordinate treatment and ensure it can continue safely while other hospitals focus on treating patients with COVID-19.

NHS England and NHS Improvement encourage anyone with worrying symptoms to continue to contact their general practitioner and have issued clear guidance to the NHS to maintain urgent referral and diagnostic services for suspected cancer.