Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of participation in clinical trials for blood cancer; and whether he plans to take steps to increase the level of participation among underrepresented groups.

No such assessment has been made. The Department-funded National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds research and research infrastructure which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research. The NIHR supported the opening of 171 studies on blood cancer and the recruitment of 7,939 participants between 2021/22 and 2023/24, indicating a consistent level of participation.

The Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial clinical trials, maximising the United Kingdom’s potential to lead the world in clinical trials, and ensuring that innovative, lifesaving treatments are accessible to National Health Service patients. Our aim is to ensure all patients, including those in underrepresented groups, are empowered to directly and proactively explore research opportunities.

The NIHR provides an online service called Be Part of Research, which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. This can also be accessed through the NHS App. This makes it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research that is relevant to them.