Oral Question·Department of Health and Social Care
“What steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for cancer diagnoses.”
Tabled: 15 October 2025Answered: 21 October 2025
Asked by
Dr Lauren Sullivan
Labour — Gravesham
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Answer from Hansard
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)
This Government are investing an extra £26 billion in the NHS, opening up community diagnostic centres at evenings and weekends and delivering 5 million more appointments to catch cancer earlier. We are making progress: 135,000 more patients have already had cancer diagnosed or ruled out within the 28-day target compared with the previous year—a lot done, and a lot more to do.