Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) help improve patient understanding of self-monitoring of blood cancer and (b) increase funding for (i) sign-posting and referrals into charity support services and (ii) other resources for patient advocacy.

NHS England is committed to ensuring that all cancer patients are offered Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer, and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.

Health and wellbeing information and support is provided from diagnosis onwards and includes access to NHS Talking Therapy services for anxiety and depression. This is alongside wider work to improve psychosocial support for people affected by cancer, such as through local partnerships with cancer support charities.