Written questions by Hodgson.

Whether the Children and Young People with Cancer Taskforce will recognise that teenagers and young adults with cancer have different needs to children.

The Department is committed to improving outcomes and patient experience for children, teenagers, and young adults with cancer, from birth to 24 years of age. That is why we have relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce, which will identify tangible ways to drive improvements for cancer patients across this age range. The taskforce’s membership, which is currently being finalised, will reflect the diversity of needs across these patient groups.We recognise that cancer in teenagers and young people is different to cancer in adults and children, and so age-appropriate care is necessary, particularly regarding treatment, diagnosis, and wider support, as per the NHS England service specifications. Department officials are working with chairs of the taskforce to develop the Terms of Reference ahead of the first meeting, currently planned for March. The taskforce will consider the most appropriate dissemination routes or publication channels for taskforce materials in due course.

Whether the Children and Young People with Cancer Taskforce will recognise that cancer is different in (a) young people and (b) children.

The Department is committed to improving outcomes and patient experience for children, teenagers, and young adults with cancer, from birth to 24 years of age. That is why we have relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce, which will identify tangible ways to drive improvements for cancer patients across this age range. The taskforce’s membership, which is currently being finalised, will reflect the diversity of needs across these patient groups.We recognise that cancer in teenagers and young people is different to cancer in adults and children, and so age-appropriate care is necessary, particularly regarding treatment, diagnosis, and wider support, as per the NHS England service specifications. Department officials are working with chairs of the taskforce to develop the Terms of Reference ahead of the first meeting, currently planned for March. The taskforce will consider the most appropriate dissemination routes or publication channels for taskforce materials in due course.

What information his Department holds on (a) how much each mesh centre received in specialised commissioning funding and (b) how many removals took place in each month since this service began.

The Department does not hold information on how much each mesh centre received in specialised commissioning funding and on the number of removals that have taken place each month since the service began.There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need, including pain management and psychological support.

What recent estimate he has made of the average waiting times for mesh centres; and what steps he is taking to reduce this.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need, including pain management and psychological support. NHS England publishes data on referral to treatment waiting times. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/The Department does not hold information on the average waiting times specifically for mesh centres. Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission and we are taking steps to return to the 18-week standard. The Elective Reform Plan sets out how the National Health Service will reform elective care services and meet the 18-week referral to treatment standard by March 2029.

Whether his Department collects data on the number of people who (a) have been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer after finishing hormone therapy and (b) are living with secondary breast cancer.

The National Disease Registration Service within NHS England, as the national cancer registry, collects diagnosis and treatment data on cancer patients in England.Using the data behind the Accredited Official Statistics on Cancer Registrations combined with Cancer Waiting Times data, there were 15,739 patients alive with metastatic breast cancer on 1 January 2023, which is the most recent estimation point available.This estimate includes patients diagnosed with metastatic, or stage four, breast cancer, as well as breast cancer patients who were diagnosed at stages one, two, or three and who have had a referral for metastatic treatment or palliative care.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the frequency of sunburn in children and young people under 18.

The Department continues to advise patients to follow National Health Service guidance on sun protection. This advice is available publicly on the NHS.UK website, which is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/It includes guidance on the extra care that should be taken for babies and children.

Whether the NHS 10-year-plan will include measures to address excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

We have committed to develop a 10-year plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. The engagement process has been launched, and as we work to develop and finalise the plan, I would encourage those concerned about excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation to engage with that process so we can identify what the potential solutions are. Further information is available at the following link:https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/

How much his Department has spent on skin cancer awareness campaigns in each of the last three financial years .

The Department continues to advise patients to follow National Health Service guidance on reducing the risk of skin cancer. This advice is available publicly on the National Health Service website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/ The Department is not taking any additional steps, currently or within the last three years, to specifically fund skin cancer awareness campaigns.NHS England run Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address the barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms as well as encouraging body awareness to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point.

What information his Department holds on the number of people who developed secondary breast cancer after completing the 10-year recommended hormone therapy in the latest period for which data is available.

The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) in NHS England, as the national cancer registry, collects diagnosis and treatment data on cancer patients in England. The NDRS does not hold data on the number of people who developed secondary breast cancer after completing the 10-year recommended hormone therapy. Further information on the NDRS is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs

What information his Department holds on whether there are ongoing trials to assess whether continuing hormone therapy indefinitely after a primary breast cancer diagnosis would prevent this cohort of patients from going on to develop secondary breast cancer.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.5 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24. Cancer is a major area of NIHR spend, reflecting its high priority. The NIHR has commissioned three current studies relevant to this issue, specifically:Improving outcomeS for Women diagnosed with early breast cancer through adhErence to adjuvant Endocrine Therapy (SWEET);Medication brand changes in hormone therapy for breast cancer. A community pharmacy intervention development to improve patients’ adherence and quality of life. ENABLE; andPOSNOC - POsitive Sentinel NOde: adjuvant therapy alone versus adjuvant therapy plus Clearance or axillary radiotherapy: A randomised controlled trial of axillary treatment in women with early stage breast cancer who have metastases in one or two sentinel nodes. The NIHR's Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) are networks of experts that work collaboratively between the National Health Service and internationally renowned universities. They facilitate early-stage experimental medicine research and support the translation of scientific discoveries. The BRCs are currently supporting a further two relevant studies:Supporting Women With Adherence To Hormone Therapy Following Breast Cancer; andUnirad: Randomized, Double-blind, Multicentre Phase Iii Trial Evaluating The Safety And Benefit Of Adding Everolimus To Adjuvant Hormone Therapy In Women With Poor Prognosis, Er+ And Her2- Primary Breast Cancer Who Remain Free Of Disease After At Least 1 Year Of Adjuvant Hormone Therapy. The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including cancer. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

What recent estimate he has made of the number of cases of late diagnoses of bowel cancer in emergency NHS settings; and what steps he is taking to reduce this number.

No recent estimate has been made. Data is only available up to 2020 from the National Disease Registration Service. The data for the year 2020 highlights that 24.4% of bowel cancer patients were diagnosed through emergency presentation.It is a priority fo...

What steps he is taking to resolve the data challenges encountered in the NHS audit from 2006-2011 of the retrospective audit of pelvic mesh.

The Department accepted the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review’s recommendation to undertake a selective retrospective audit of a defined cohort of women who have undergone mesh procedures. NHS Digital, now NHS England, has audited al...

When he expects the retrospective audit of all pelvic floor surgery completed between 2006 and 2011 to be published by NHS England.

The Department accepted the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review’s recommendation to undertake a selective retrospective audit of a defined cohort of women who have undergone mesh procedures. NHS Digital, now NHS England, has audited al...

What steps he is taking to improve access to initial diagnostic blood tests for coeliac disease in primary care settings.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has guidance on the recognition, assessment, and management of coeliac disease, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20The guidance outlines a number of symptoms ...

What steps he is taking to raise awareness of the average waiting time of 13 years for a diagnosis of coeliac disease.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has guidance on the recognition, assessment, and management of coeliac disease, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20The guidance outlines a number of symptoms ...

What assessment he has made of the impact of diagnostic delays on the long-term health of patients with undiagnosed coeliac disease; and what steps he is taking to reduce those delays.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has guidance on the recognition, assessment, and management of coeliac disease, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20The guidance outlines a number of symptoms ...

With reference to paragraph 69 of the House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee report entitled Preterm Birth: reducing risks and improving lives, HL 30, published on 14 November 2024, if his Departme

We welcome the House of Lords’ Preterm Birth Committee’s report focused on reducing risks and improving lives. We thank all the individuals and organisations that gave evidence to the Inquiry, and the committee members for their detailed examination of th...

If he will take steps to ensure that Start for Life services in Sunderland are funded beyond 1 April 2025.

The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is central to the Government’s commitments to give every baby the best start in life, and to deliver the healthiest generation ever.The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change outlined that we will give children the b...

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that parents do not have to wait six months or more for post-mortem results following the death of a baby.

The Government recognises the significant impact of delays in post-mortems on bereaved families. Specialised perinatal pathology services provide medical investigations, including post-mortem examinations following the death of a foetus or baby. These ser...

What steps he is taking to ensure that young people with cancer have equity of access to (a) age-appropriate and (b) specialist psychological support.

We are committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive. This includes children, teenagers and young adults (CTYA).NHS England has published service specifications that set out...