John Baron MP presses Cancer Minister for greater accountability on earlier diagnosis

MP also calls for HPV vaccination programme to be extended to young men

Today during Health Questions in the House of Commons, John Baron MP asked the Minister with responsibility for cancer, Jane Ellison MP, how Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGS) will be held accountable for their one-year cancer survival rates. There has been uncertainly whether CCGs are answerable through the Outcomes Indicator Set (OIS) or the NHS Comprehensive Delivery Dashboard.

In the House of Commons, John asked,

“If the Government is to meet its target of saving an extra 5,000 lives a year and meet the European average for cancer survival rates, we need to better promote earlier diagnosis and hold underperforming CCGs to account. Why is it then that the one-year survival rates – which are meant to promote earlier diagnosis – are not in the Delivery Dashboard which, unlike the OIS, has teeth? CCG Chief Executives have told me there is no reason why this shouldn’t be the case.”

The Minister responded that she would consider this.

Afterwards, John said,

“I am pleased the Minister will look into this further. It is essential that CCGs know that pressure will be brought to bear if their one-year survival rates are poor. This does not seem to be the case at the moment – I look forward to hearing further from the Government.”

Later on in the session, John also asked whether the Government will consider extending the HPV vaccination programme to include young men as well as young women. The Secretary of State said the Government was looking into this as an option.

Afterwards, John said:

“I am also pleased that the Government is considering extending the HPV vaccination to young men as well as young women. Many charities believe this would be beneficial, and mounting evidence is on their side.”