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My Lords, improving diagnosis and treatment for rare cancer patients is a priority for this Government through the national cancer plan. The department is exploring procurement mechanisms to stimulate technological breakthroughs to tackle rare cancers with the lowest survival rates. The MHRA launched a public consultation in May seeking views on how rare disease therapies are regulated. The Government will implement the Rare Cancers Act 2026 to ensure that our regulatory framework delivers for rare cancer patients.
My Lords, improving diagnosis and treatment for rare cancer patients is a priority for this Government through the national cancer plan. The department is exploring procurement mechanisms to stimulate technological breakthroughs to tackle rare cancers with the lowest survival rates. The MHRA launched a public consultation in May seeking views on how rare disease therapies are regulated. The Government will implement the Rare Cancers Act 2026 to ensure that our regulatory framework delivers for rare cancer patients.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what incentives they are creating to encourage pharmaceutical and medical technology industries to innovate in the diagnosis and treatment of rare cancers.
The noble Baroness is quite right to talk about acceleration of clinical trials; as she and your Lordships’ House will be aware, that is exactly what we are doing. Not least, our turbocharging of clinical trials has already meant that set-up now takes an average of 122 days, which is down from 169 days last year and indeed exceeds the Government’s wish, which was 150 days. I share her view on early diagnosis, which, again, is why that is covered in the cancer plan. On genomics, the national cancer plan sets out a major expansion in the use of genomics to do exactly as the noble Baroness says: support earlier diagnosis and more personalised treatment.
The noble Baroness is quite right to talk about acceleration of clinical trials; as she and your Lordships’ House will be aware, that is exactly what we are doing. Not least, our turbocharging of clinical trials has already meant that set-up now takes an average of 122 days, which is down from 169 days last year and indeed exceeds the Government’s wish, which was 150 days. I share her view on early diagnosis, which, again, is why that is covered in the cancer plan. On genomics, the national cancer plan sets out a major expansion in the use of genomics to do exactly as the noble Baroness says: support earlier diagnosis and more personalised treatment.
I am grateful to the Minister for outlining what are laudable aims, but the reality is that, every year, about 67,000 people die from rare cancers. About 10,500 of those have brain tumours, and, of all those patients, many are children or young people. Some 82% say they were never offered a trial, often because no trial exists that they could even go into, and half of them feel that their diagnosis was late, leaving them to have end-stage cancers. So, first, with the cancer plan, plans for early detection, the trials accelerator and THRIVE, will the Government ensure that all cancers, but particularly rare cancers, have comprehensive genomics testing and that there is tissue freezing as appropriate so there can be targeted drug development by pharmaceutical industries and personalised treatments? Secondly, will the Government strengthen bench to bedside so that there is a stronger clinical academic force, in oncology and in pathology in particular, to shorten set-up times for trials, and will drug and radiotherapy trials have hub and spoke models so that patients living at a distance from a research centre can still benefit from going into a trial, and the bureaucracy will be decreased?
In all cases in our development of the NHS app, which is the front door to the NHS and has already made tremendous steps forward in terms of access, we already build in provision so that those who for whatever reason are not able to use the app will continue to get personalised support. However, it is true that we will offer those with rare and less common cancers in particular the opportunity to take
part in clinical trials through the NHS app, and I will be pleased to keep the noble Baroness informed of the timetable. We want and will get faster access to the most innovative treatments and technologies that are available.
In all cases in our development of the NHS app, which is the front door to the NHS and has already made tremendous steps forward in terms of access, we already build in provision so that those who for whatever reason are not able to use the app will continue to get personalised support. However, it is true that we will offer those with rare and less common cancers in particular the opportunity to take
part in clinical trials through the NHS app, and I will be pleased to keep the noble Baroness informed of the timetable. We want and will get faster access to the most innovative treatments and technologies that are available.
My Lords, in January, the Government announced faster access to clinical trials via the NHS app for rare cancers. Is that live yet? If not, by when will patients be able to use this innovation to take part in suitable drug trials? And how will those who are digitally excluded have access?
Indeed, I am pleased to give my noble friend that assurance, which is at the core of the national cancer plan. It is worth saying that many rare and less common cancers, including those that cannot be staged, are diagnosed in emergency settings, which is far from ideal and outcomes are far worse. We have committed, and have a plan, to reduce the number of rare cancers that are diagnosed in emergency settings, but we will also provide improved screening and surveillance and help GPs to spot harder-to-recognise rare cancer cases through AI-driven decision support tools and new approaches. All that will be of great assistance in the way that my noble friend seeks.
Indeed, I am pleased to give my noble friend that assurance, which is at the core of the national cancer plan. It is worth saying that many rare and less common cancers, including those that cannot be staged, are diagnosed in emergency settings, which is far from ideal and outcomes are far worse. We have committed, and have a plan, to reduce the number of rare cancers that are diagnosed in emergency settings, but we will also provide improved screening and surveillance and help GPs to spot harder-to-recognise rare cancer cases through AI-driven decision support tools and new approaches. All that will be of great assistance in the way that my noble friend seeks.
My Lords, the noble Baroness’s attempt to get early treatment is commendable, and we are glad to hear what the Government are saying, but does she agree that one problem is that cancer is really a multimorbidity, so that often a number of different organs will be affected by it? Does she further agree that we might do more to hasten diagnosis for patients who may be suspected of having cancer but it often takes a long time to get those connections to see the oncologist who eventually decides whether to give the very expensive drugs that are needed? Will she ensure as far as she can that speed between services is undertaken?
Such considerations are always made, as the noble Lord is aware, when we make plans in respect of where taxation applies—I know there was an Urgent Question in the House of Commons which the Minister concerned, Karin Smyth, answered. In evaluating all new medicines, including for rare cancers, NICE is able to recommend many new treatments now available to NHS patients that previously were not, but I take the point of the question. I want to emphasise that the cancer drugs fund means that there is funding for promising new cancer drugs and NHS patients can get earlier access to treatments that would not otherwise have been available to them. Through the MHRA, we are also designing a new framework for regulation of rare disease treatments in all these ways. That will certainly support the point the noble Lord rightly made.
Such considerations are always made, as the noble Lord is aware, when we make plans in respect of where taxation applies—I know there was an Urgent Question in the House of Commons which the Minister concerned, Karin Smyth, answered. In evaluating all new medicines, including for rare cancers, NICE is able to recommend many new treatments now available to NHS patients that previously were not, but I take the point of the question. I want to emphasise that the cancer drugs fund means that there is funding for promising new cancer drugs and NHS patients can get earlier access to treatments that would not otherwise have been available to them. Through the MHRA, we are also designing a new framework for regulation of rare disease treatments in all these ways. That will certainly support the point the noble Lord rightly made.
My Lords, a number of life sciences companies have warned that the recent HMRC VAT rulings on compassionate use and early access medicine schemes, which can result in companies being charged VAT even where they provide medicines free of charge, could lead to them withdrawing programmes that provide innovative treatments to patients with rare conditions before routine NHS funding is available. Have the Government looked at the impact of charging VAT on drugs that are available for free through the compassionate use and early access schemes? What is the impact of that on their stated ambition to encourage more innovation in diagnosis and treatment of rare conditions?
I recognise what the noble Lord says about bottlenecks. That is why the national cancer plan is quite clear about the changes we will see. I should say, to the point in this Question, that there is for the first time specific reference to rare cancers—I always think “rare cancers” is a bit of a misnomer in any case, if one looks at the statistics. The national cancer plan also sets out a major expansion in the use of genomics, and that will support earlier diagnosis and more personalised treatment. That is what we need to see.
I recognise what the noble Lord says about bottlenecks. That is why the national cancer plan is quite clear about the changes we will see. I should say, to the point in this Question, that there is for the first time specific reference to rare cancers—I always think “rare cancers” is a bit of a misnomer in any case, if one looks at the statistics. The national cancer plan also sets out a major expansion in the use of genomics, and that will support earlier diagnosis and more personalised treatment. That is what we need to see.
My Lords, we lead in genomic science and infrastructure by having established seven hubs for genomic testing. Despite this, we fall behind in testing for liquid biopsies of DNA and for circulating DNA, in histology testing, in molecular testing of cancer tissues and in testing for genetically inherited genes in families. All these are because of bottlenecks—not because the machines cannot do the tests. We need somebody to get a grip of the administrative backlogs that occur because we are failing on timelines for all these, which are government targets. Can the Minister answer on that?
It is key that we continue our commitment to speeding up research and clinical trials. We have already cut unnecessary bureaucracy, standardised processes and freed up workforce capacity, and we are—as I said earlier—seeking to use the NHS app as a way forward. That is just the beginning of an ambition to accelerate start-up times. We need to strengthen our position as a global force in respect of clinical trials, and the hub and spoke model—which my noble friend and the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, both spoke to—is a possible way to take that forward.
It is key that we continue our commitment to speeding up research and clinical trials. We have already cut unnecessary bureaucracy, standardised processes and freed up workforce capacity, and we are—as I said earlier—seeking to use the NHS app as a way forward. That is just the beginning of an ambition to accelerate start-up times. We need to strengthen our position as a global force in respect of clinical trials, and the hub and spoke model—which my noble friend and the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, both spoke to—is a possible way to take that forward.
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, for this very important Question and for raising the hub and spoke model for cancer trials. Rare cancer trials involve fewer patients and less data, which makes it very difficult to conduct the large, randomised studies that are needed for NICE approval and to produce evidence for innovative treatments. Are the Government considering asking NICE to review or revise its assessment methods so that innovative treatments can be approved with fewer patients and less data because of the difficulties in doing large trials, so that patients are not left behind?
To ask His Majesty’s Government what incentives they are creating to encourage pharmaceutical and medical technology industries to innovate in the diagnosis and treatment of rare cancers.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what incentives they are creating to encourage pharmaceutical and medical technology industries to innovate in the diagnosis and treatment of rare cancers.
My Lords, improving diagnosis and treatment for rare cancer patients is a priority for this Government through the national cancer plan. The department is exploring procurement mechanisms to stimulate technological breakthroughs to tackle rare cancers with the lowest survival rates. The MHRA launched a public consultation in May seeking views on how rare disease therapies are regulated. The Government will implement the Rare Cancers Act 2026 to ensure that our regulatory framework delivers for rare cancer patients.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will set clear timelines in the NHS breast screening programme for implementing innovative technologies, including digital breast tomosynthesis.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will set clear timelines in the NHS breast screening programme for implementing innovative technologies, including digital breast tomosynthesis.
The Government recognises the benefits that emerging innovative technologies such as digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) may bring to the NHS Breast Screening Programme. At present, DBT is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography. Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).
In 2025, the UK NSC, who advise the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom breast screening programmes. This includes exploring modalities such as DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential benefits of technology investments, including optical character recognition and natural language processing, to automate manual processes in clinical audit and registry submission across NHS England; whether businesses cases for that investment have been prepared; if so, in...
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential benefits of technology investments, including optical character recognition and natural language processing, to automate manual processes in clinical audit and registry submission across NHS England; whether businesses cases for that investment have been prepared; if so, in...
NHS England is exploring a range of functionality to automate manual data processes aligned to clinical improvement, including for our Outcomes & Registries Programme, National Disease Registration Service, frontline digitisation and the promotion and adoption of new technology across provider systems. Our central data and digital transformation business cases are primarily focused on the adoption of the technical capabilities and innovations, applicable in many areas, rather than focusing within specific individual audits or registries alone. Some business cases have been accepted and moved forward.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of adjusting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cost-effectiveness thresholds for highly specialised technology in line with the new single technology appraisal cost-effectiveness thresholds due to come into effect from April.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of adjusting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cost-effectiveness thresholds for highly specialised technology in line with the new single technology appraisal cost-effectiveness thresholds due to come into effect from April.
We have reached a landmark agreement with the United States of America that secures a preferential tariff rate of 0% for all pharmaceuticals exports to the US for at least three years, and preferential terms for the United Kingdom’s medical technology exports, meaning no additional new tariffs on medical technology. This means that, unlike anywhere else in the world, life sciences companies exporting medicines from the UK to the US will face no tariffs to do so, protecting jobs and investment in the UK.
The agreement will see the National Health Service invest approximately 25% more in innovative treatments which will be achieved through an increase to the standard cost-effectiveness threshold that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) uses and a change to the way in which NICE values health benefits to better reflect societal preferences.
There are currently no plans to increase the cost‑effectiveness threshold for the highly specialised technologies (HST) programme. The HST programme already operates at a much higher threshold than standard NICE technology appraisals, reflecting the challenges of bringing treatments for very rare conditions to market, and NICE has been able to recommend nearly all the treatments that have been evaluated through the HST programme for NHS use.
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the merger of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, what steps they will take to ensure that health tech companies who have received first phase funding from the Small Business Research Initiative can receive second phase funding this financial year.
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the merger of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, what steps they will take to ensure that health tech companies who have received first phase funding from the Small Business Research Initiative can receive second phase funding this financial year.
The Department and NHS England are committed to health and care research, as it is vital to fulfilling the objectives of the Growth and Health Missions. The Department and NHS England will continue to support research and development throughout the transition process and beyond. NHS England’s Innovation, Research and Life Sciences Strategy team has confirmed funding in 2025/26 for innovations already supported through Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare competitions in their current phases. NHS England has invested £13.6 million through the SBRI Healthcare programme to support the development of over 50 innovations this year. NHS England is unable to fund future phases within this financial year.
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of concerns raised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists about the impact of the use of video monitoring technology on some mental health patients, whether they will commission independent research on the efficacy of such technology and its effect on patients; and...
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of concerns raised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists about the impact of the use of video monitoring technology on some mental health patients, whether they will commission independent research on the efficacy of such technology and its effect on patients; and...
NHS England has commissioned a rapid evidence review of vision based monitoring systems. These insights have been used to work in partnership with people with lived experience, clinicians, and stakeholders to develop national guidance, which will be published imminently. There is currently no guidance to suspend oxevision until such research is carried out.
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the report from the charity Breakthrough T1D, Access for all: The impact of technology on the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, published in October, which concluded that respondents from lower socio-economic groups, and those over the age of 65, were least likely to be...
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the report from the charity Breakthrough T1D, Access for all: The impact of technology on the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, published in October, which concluded that respondents from lower socio-economic groups, and those over the age of 65, were least likely to be...
NHS England’s Diabetes Programme uses a range of communication channels, including mainstream and social media, to share information about the latest technologies that are available for people with Type 1 diabetes. NHS England works closely with its partners, including Breakthrough T1D, Diabetes UK and the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists Technology Network to amplify key messages.
A new decision support tool has been designed to support people to understand what diabetes treatment technologies are available on the National Health Service, supporting discussions between someone living with type 1 diabetes and their healthcare professional about the technology they are eligible for and supports shared decision-making about the person’s care in managing type 1 diabetes.
Furthermore, nationally commissioned self-management resources have been put in place, including DigiBete, designed for children and young people aged between zero and 25 years old with type 1 diabetes in ten languages and MyType1 Diabetes, which is available to all adults living with type 1 diabetes.
As part of NHS England’s focus on improving equity of access to diabetes technology, diabetes care is one of the five clinical areas of focus for integrated care boards to achieve system change and improve care within the Core20Plus5 for children and young people . Core20PLUS5 is a national NHS England approach to support the reduction of health inequalities at both national and system level. The approach defines a target population cohort and identifies five focus clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement. The aim of this work is to increase access to real-time continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps for people in the most deprived 20% of the national population and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 May, Official Report, column 1459W, on fares: technology, whether the proposed timetable would allow for smartcards to be used in time for the start of the national concessionary fares scheme in April 2008.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 May, Official Report, column 1459W, on fares: technology, whether the proposed timetable would allow for smartcards to be used in time for the start of the national concessionary fares scheme in April 2008.