Cancer: Health Services

(asked on 5th November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support for personalised cancer care he plans to put in place under the NHS Long-Term Plan.


Answered by
Maria Caulfield Portrait
Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
This question was answered on 10th November 2021

The National Health Service (NHS) Long Term Plan states that where appropriate every person diagnosed with cancer should receive a Personalised Care and Support Plan based on holistic needs assessment, end of treatment summaries and health and wellbeing information and support, including for mental health needs.

Cancer Alliances are leading programmes of work to embed these personalised care interventions within local providers. NHS England and Improvement is supporting staff to offer personalised care to people affected by cancer by promoting awareness and understanding of the interventions and how to improve their quality. This includes providing resources such as a handbook on personalised stratified follow up, a checklist on health and wellbeing information and support, and sharing of best practice.

In addition, the revised Cancer Care Review requirements for General Practitioner (GP) practices mean patients’ holistic support needs will be assessed twice in their first year after diagnosis. This requirement encourages GP practices to have early and supportive conversations with cancer patients about their needs and ensure patients are aware of what help is available in the community.

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