Let me assure you that I share the commitment of the campaign to see waiting lists for cancer treatment and care significantly reduced over the next few years and I have ensured that Ministerial colleagues are aware of the campaign and its calls to action.

Over the last year, the Government has provided funding to help recover cancer services, and a plan that outlines how that funding will be spent effectively. 

Through the NHS Long Term Plan, an additional £32 million was provided for radiotherapy equipment in 2021/22, ensuring that approximately 100 radiotherapy treatment machines could be replaced or upgraded.  Reinforced by £6 billion of capital investment in the 2021 Spending Review, the NHS is gradually reducing the number of linear accelerators aged 10 years or over.

It is right that this funding comes with high expectations for reducing cancer waiting times.  By March 2024, the NHS has set an ambition for 75 per cent of patients who have been urgently referred by their GP for suspected cancer to be diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days. 

The Government is currently developing a new 10 Year Cancer Plan, which will consider access to cancer treatments, including radiotherapy.

In the meantime, I also understand that payment arrangements for radiotherapy are being reviewed to ensure providers can increase access to new treatments and upgrade and replace equipment.  These arrangements are expected to be in place from April 2023.

Queen's Speech 2022

I share the desire of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign to bring down cancer waiting times as soon as possible.

However, I could not support the proposed amendment to the Queen's Speech, because the Government has already set out a clear plan with funding to eliminate the backlog of operations (including cancer treatment) over the next three years.  

I fully recognise that more must be done to support people waiting for cancer treatment, and I am grateful to the large number of patient groups like Radiotherapy UK who provide vital information, support and services to people with cancer and their families.