Bowel Cancer: Screening
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide additional funding for improved endoscopy equipment for diagnosing bowel cancer.
Answered by Karin Smyth
Increasing capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services is a priority for the Government. We are committed to providing the National Health Service with the latest technology, replacing outdated equipment to make diagnosis more accurate and timely, and improving experience for patients. Plans for future funding will be informed by NHS England's assessment of priorities, and will be set out at the earliest opportunity.
It is our priority to take the steps necessary to return to waiting time standards for cancer, including the Faster Diagnosis Standard, which sets a target of 28 days from urgent referral by a general practitioner or screening programme to patients being told that they have cancer, or that cancer is ruled out.
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