§ 2. Mrs. Marion Roe (Broxbourne)If he will make a statement on the Government's target to reduce the death rates from cancer, as set out in the Green Paper on public health. [42175]
§ The Minister for Public Health (Ms Tessa Jowell)There are three ways of reducing deaths from cancer, the first of which is by better prevention and reduction of preventable deaths. The Green Paper sets a target of reducing the death rate from cancer among people under 65 by at least a further fifth by 2010. If achieved, the target would annually save approximately 6,000 lives in England.
The second way is by improving early detection and by better treatment—for example, through the national service frameworks, and implementation of the Calman-Hine approach.
Finally, we will make an impact on reducing death from cancer by implementing the Government's commitment that, by 2000, anyone with suspected cancer will be able to see a specialist within two weeks of referral for any cancer.
§ Mrs. RoeAs waiting lists are a major concern to patients, will the Minister confirm that the Secretary of State promised a two-week wait to see a cancer consultant, and immediate surgery? We have not heard very much about that pledge. Has it been forgotten? If it has not, what action has been taken to fulfil that pledge?
§ Ms JowellThe fact is that, in dealing with breast cancer, £10 million was allocated to implement the pledge. By April 1999, any woman who has suspected breast cancer and whose general practitioner thinks that it should be investigated urgently will be seen by a consultant within two weeks of referral. By 2000, that pledge will apply to all patients with suspected cancer. We promised that that was what we would do, and that is what we will do.
§ Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)I welcome my hon. Friend's comments, and her team's commitment to 156 ensuring that we really tackle the problem of cancer. In 1997 alone, more than 70,000 men died of cancer. Many of them died of lung cancer, but many others died of prostrate cancer. I therefore welcome the concentration on early detection, particularly among men. For whatever reasons, men neglect their health and the early signs of cancer, and try to avoid tackling the problem.
Will my hon. Friend ensure that, once treatment is decided, those who have signs of cancer are guaranteed high-quality treatment, regardless of where they live in the United Kingdom—rather than having to play some sort of lottery, based on where they live, that determines the quality of their consultant and treatment?
§ Ms JowellMy hon. Friend is right. Rebuilding the certainty that a patient will be treated by cancer specialists with the competence to provide the highest-quality treatment regardless of where they live is what we mean in practice by discharging our pledge to patients to rebuild a modern national health service.
§ Mr. Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon)Is the Minister aware of the increasing concern about the incidence of bowel cancer? How are the Government responding to the representations of the Cancer Research Campaign to give greater priority to the problem?
§ Ms JowellWe have invested a further £10 million to investigate screening for bowel cancer. The pledge that patients will be seen within two weeks of referral will be effective from April 2000. Bowel cancer is a major cause of preventable death. We believe that lives can be saved, and we are investing to save lives.