Written question WQ96481
- Asked by
- Delyth JewellPlaid
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to address the late diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and ensure earlier access to diagnostic tools for patients?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Our approach to improving cancer outcomes is set out in the Quality Statement for Cancer. This includes a series of nationally agreed pathways, including for pancreatic cancer, that set out what each health board should plan to deliver to rapidly investigate and treat cancer. We also fund a national clinical audit of pancreatic cancer care to support improvement in the quality of care provided by NHS services.
To help improve detection of cancer, we have worked with the NHS in Wales to improve access to diagnostic services, supported GPs to refer people with symptoms by rolling out GatewayC to all practices, and introduced Rapid Diagnostic Centres across Wales for people with unclear symptoms.