Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on the potential impact of the Big Space Cancer Appeal on cancer care at Cheltenham General Hospital.
As set out in the recent Autumn Budget 2024, we are providing an additional £1.8 billion to directly support elective recovery and activity in 2024/25, which includes cancer care. This funding is being provided to reduce waiting times and support the National Health Service to deliver 40,000 additional appointments each week.
As my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, capital spending is set to increase to £13.6 billion in 2025/26, representing record levels of capital investment into health. This includes £1.65 billion for investments aimed at improving NHS performance against constitutional standards, delivering new surgical hubs, diagnostic scanners, and beds to increase elective and emergency care capacity. This funding also includes £70 million for new radiotherapy machines to improve cancer treatment. The Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board has been provisionally allocated £4.5 million from our Constitutional Standards Recovery Fund for 2025/26.