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Written question asked by Polly Billington (Labour) on Friday, 10 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 October 2025 (named day). It was answered by Ashley Dalton (Labour) on Monday, 20 October 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Blood Cancer: Diagnosis

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase early diagnosis for blood cancer.

Answer

The Department continues to support the National Health Service to diagnose and treat cancer, including blood cancers, as early and fast as possible.

To increase early diagnosis of blood cancer, the NHS has implemented non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type such as blood cancer. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England, with blood cancers being one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.

Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
79996
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Diagnosis Blood cancer
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk