Cancer
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact that greater histopathology capacity would have on delivering the Government’s ambition to provide comprehensive molecular profiling to every eligible cancer patient.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The Department recognises the vital role that histopathology services play in supporting timely diagnosis and access to advanced pathology testing, including molecular profiling where clinically appropriate. These services underpin cancer pathways and enable more personalised treatments, while also supporting the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of a wide range of non-cancer conditions.
To support the expansion of high-quality histopathology capacity, we will deliver significant investment in laboratory modernisation, including a £96 million investment to automate histopathology. This investment will aim to speed up the processing and reporting of tissue samples and enable the National Health Service to meet the 98% standard for results to be reported in 10 days by March 2029. Delivering these improvements will enable the Department to meet our commitment of providing comprehensive molecular profiling of all cancers, which will help to inform risk stratification and support the use of more precise, targeted medicines earlier in the treatment pathway.
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