Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how the National Cancer Plan’s commitments on improving diagnosis for children and young people will specifically address the diagnostic challenges faced by teenagers and young adults, rather than treating this group solely within paediatric diagnostic pathways.

The Department recognises the unique challenges that teenagers and young adults with cancer face, often falling between paediatric and adult care, and that age-appropriate care is necessary regarding diagnosis and wider support.

Early diagnosis of cancers is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. The Plan sets out the commitment to ensure patients aged between 16 and 24 years old are referred to the Teenage and Young Adult multi-disciplinary team to enable early discussions and age-appropriate support during diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

The Plan also sets out the Government’s commitment to ensure all primary and emergency care clinicians have telephone access to a consultant or a relevant consultant, to ask for advice on suspected cancer cases in children aged between zero and 18 years old directly through the expansion of Advice and Guidance and in line with current Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Facing the Future guidance. This guidance includes a focus on the needs of adolescents aged between 16 and 18 years old.

More generally, a national service specification is in place for the provision of teenage and young adult cancer services. This sets out the requirements and relationships that need to be in place with other services so that patients can access treatment and care in age-appropriate settings.