Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission research on potential steps to improve outcomes for cancer patients in rural areas.

Reducing unwarranted variation in cancer treatment and outcomes is a strategic priority for the NHS Cancer Programme. NHS England commissioned the Royal College of Surgeons to deliver 10 cancer clinical audits. Outcomes from the audits will support the National Health Service to increase the consistency of access to treatments and help guide quality improvement initiatives. Officials within the Department and NHS England are in the process of considering the audit’s findings and next steps.

Furthermore, the Department supports statutory integrated care systems (ICSs) in delivering NHS services across England. ICSs are partnerships of organisations which come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, to improve the lives of the people who live and work in their area. This includes considering adequate healthcare provision for populations in towns and rural areas and working collaboratively to plan for population change.

The organisations within an ICS include the NHS, local government, social care providers, charities, and other organisations working together to provide more joined up care for people, and to improve the outcomes for their populations.