Today at the Health and Social Care Committee, Members took evidence from senior NHS executives about cancer services in the UK.
Cancer is a priority for the NHS and the Committee and Members were updated on the NHS’s progress in tackling waiting list backlog. Early diagnosis is key to improving survival rates.
A new Community Diagnostic Centre will be opening in Telford soon. This will accelerate diagnoses locally and reduce waiting lists for patients. The Princess Royal is also to become a specialist cancer centre under the new hospital improvement plan devised by local clinicians.
Lucy used her questions to discuss the fact that cancer survival rates vary across the country, with lower survival rates in areas of deprivation, asking what was being done to tackle this basic health inequality.
Giving evidence at today’s session were:
- Dame Cally Palmer: National Cancer Director for NHS England
- Professor Peter Johnson, Nation Clinical Director for Cancer, NHS England
You can watch the Committee session here. Lucy’s questions start at 10:36:24.
