§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment his Department is making in services to combat bowel cancer. [2522]
§ Yvette CooperAn additional £280 million is available in 2001–02 to improve the delivery of cancer care.
68W Since 1998, £10 million per year has been invested to implement "Improving Outcomes" guidance on colorectal cancer. Bowel cancer patients have also benefited from the £6 million investment in nine cancer services collaborative (CSC) pilots which have been proven to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment. The CSC is now being rolled out across all 34 cancer networks.
The NHS cancer plan set out a commitment to a £2.5 million endoscopy training programme. Endoscopy is a key diagnostic procedure for gastro-intestinal cancers. General practitioners, nurses, surgeons and gastroenterologists will benefit from this initiative which will help in meeting an increasing demand for endoscopy.
There is also a programme of investment in cancer equipment under way. £93 million from the new opportunities fund and £100 million from the modernisation fund will buy new and replacement equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
A bowel cancer screening pilot is currently under way at sites in Scotland and England. The pilot will complete in 2002, and if it demonstrates that colorectal cancer screening is appropriate, feasible and acceptable to the public we will introduce it for all people aged 50–69.