Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to address the numbers of screening tests for pancreatic cancer wrequired following the covid-19 outbreak.

The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is being aided by the roll out of Rapid Diagnostic Centres across the England to bring together the latest diagnostic equipment and expertise. This programme builds on the Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Centre model piloted through the Accelerate, Coordinate and Evaluate programme, which focussed on diagnosing cancers where patients often present with non-specific symptoms and may go to their general practitioner (GP) many times before being sent for appropriate tests, such as pancreatic cancer.

Individuals are encouraged to contact their GP if they are concerned about any unusual symptoms.