My Lords, I begin by welcoming the publication of the national cancer plan and make it clear we fully share the Government’s desire to tackle cancer and to succeed in the fight against a condition that has affected almost every family in the country in one way or another. The Government have set out a clear ambition in this area, and we support them in that endeavour. It is appropriate for me also to pay tribute to all those who have contributed to the development of the plan, particularly those with lived experience with cancer and those close to them. Their willingness to share their experiences with such openness—and in many cases, courage—has, I am sure, been invaluable in shaping the finished result, and they deserve our thanks and recognition.
The national cancer plan sets out a number of significant commitments, including improving early diagnosis, restoring performance against cancer waiting time standards, accelerating the set-up of clinical trials and rolling out targeted lung screening nationally. It also places a strong emphasis on modernising services through technology and innovation.
These are all laudable aims and, indeed, Cancer Research UK has said that there is “much to welcome” in the plan. However, it has also rightly noted that delivery, funding and accountability will ultimately determine whether patients see real change. It is easy to put ambitious plans down on paper, but what matter in the end are clear delivery milestones and accountability. In that respect, this plan echoes many of the ambitions of the 10-year NHS plan, which was strong on aspiration but lighter on detail about how improvements would be delivered on the ground. My first question is, therefore, straightforward. When will the Government publish clear, fully funded milestones setting out how and when patients can expect to see tangible improvements over the next year or two?
It is also clear that the success of the plan will depend on having a sufficient workforce of cancer nurses, radiographers, pathologists and oncologists to deliver its aims. Can the Minister say whether we will shortly see a fully funded long-term workforce plan to support the staffing required to expand diagnostic and treatment capacity, not just in NHS trust settings but within neighbourhood health centres? In particular, can the Government explain clearly who will staff these services and how they will be funded? Blood Cancer UK has highlighted the importance of ensuring that blood cancers are properly recognised in workforce and service planning, and that patients receive consistent support from the point of diagnosis, including access to a named healthcare professional. Staff also need to know that they will be supported in delivering this plan, given current strains on capacity. In that context, we hear anecdotally of the difficulties involved in ensuring that staffing by doctors is adequate in all parts of the country. Some doctors, especially doctors in training, make up their minds that they will not be sent to work in an area that is not to their liking, perhaps because it would locate them far from friends and family. Will the welcome announcement of more training places in rural areas be enough to get sufficient doctors working in those areas?