Skin Cancer: Preventive Medicine
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to strengthen preventative care for skin cancer in (a) Yeovil constituency (b), Somerset and (c) England.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The Government is taking action to reduce preventable cancers through the National Cancer Plan for England, which sets out action to improve cancer prevention, earlier diagnosis and reduce variation in outcomes across the country, including in Somerset and Yeovil.
The Plan includes action to help prevent skin cancer by supporting people to protect themselves from harmful ultraviolet exposure, including tackling illegal sunbed use for people under 18 years old, alongside wider measures to address smoking, obesity and alcohol-related harms. On 22 May 2026, the government launched a consultation on strengthening the regulation of commercial sunbeds in England, including proposals for mandatory age verification, supervised use and improved health information for users. The consultation is available at the following link:
The Government is also seeking evidence on whether further action to reduce the health harms associated with sunbed use, including skin cancers, is justified.
The department continues to advise people to follow NHS guidance on reducing the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, including staying safe in the sun and using sunscreen appropriately. Advice on sun safety and melanoma symptoms is available on the NHS website.
NHS England is improving the early diagnosis of skin cancer through the national rollout of teledermatology services, which enable virtual review of dermoscopic images, increase the speed and capacity of skin cancer assessment. NHS England has also published guidance on implementing timed skin cancer diagnostic pathways to support delivery of the Faster Diagnosis Standard across England, including in Somerset.
Cancer Alliances play an important role in supporting local delivery of cancer prevention, earlier diagnosis and cancer pathway improvement, helping reduce variation in access and outcomes for patients across England including those in Somerset and Yeovil.
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