Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are plans to develop a cancer manual for teenagers and young adults alongside other cancer manuals committed to in the National Cancer Plan.

Reducing inequity and variation in cancer care is a priority for the Government. The National Cancer Plan, published in February 2026, sets out how the Government will reduce unwarranted variation in access to cancer treatments to drive up standards across England and tackle health inequalities head on.

The Department and NHS England will establish clear quality standards for cancer delivery through cancer manuals, published by tumour type. Quality standards will incorporate clinical-effectiveness, safety, and experience of care, in line with the definition of quality set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The manuals will provide a consistent framework against which clinicians, trust boards, and commissioners can assess the quality of their service.

The Department is reviewing the process for developing cancer manuals, including the criteria to use to select specific tumour types.

The Department recognises the unique challenges that teenagers and young adults with cancer face, often falling between paediatric and adult care. Through the National Cancer Plan for England, the Government will 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 Government will also break down barriers to clinical trials for young people aged between 16 and 24 years old, who often do not qualify for pediatric or adult trials, by requiring clinical justifications for age limits.

Furthermore, the Government will improve the experience of staying in hospital, youth support coordinators will provide teenagers and young adults support on education, emotional and practical impacts of cancer, returning to study and fertility concerns.