Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that women in prison with cancer (1) are treated by appropriately qualified clinicians, and (2) have consistent access to oncology specialists.

NHS England commissions all services across the prison estate to be equivalent with those expected to be received in the community, including for cancer care.

All people received into prison have an initial health screen on arrival into prison. This assessment focuses on initial risks and key medicines required and any referrals to other services for immediate assessment. Any concerns regarding failures in cancer care for people in prison should be escalated by prison healthcare to the local National Health Service Health and Justice Commissioner.

NHS England expects all providers and healthcare professionals providing any NHS funded or commissioned service to have appropriate and relevant qualifications and work within the scope of their professional registration, including clinicians working to treat people in prison. Any women with a cancer diagnosis who require secondary or tertiary care should have access to these services as they would if they were in the community.

More information regarding assessments in relation to women diagnosed with cancer in prison can be found in the report, The health of people in prison, on probation and in the secure NHS estate in England, published in November 2025 by Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer. A copy of this report is attached.

Through the National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February 2026, we are committed to supporting all people living with or recovering from cancer.