Mark has called on the Government to do more to improve the early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, and to solve ongoing shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy medication (PERT) which are affecting some of my constituents in The Wrekin.
According to the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK, about 10,500 people a year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK and it has the lowest cancer survival rate, with about 9,000 people dying every year. More than half of people with pancreatic cancer die within 3 months of diagnosis.
In response to Mark's questions about improving early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, the Health Ministers confirmed that NHS England has:
- Funded an audit into pancreatic cancer to improve treatment and outcomes. The work started in October 2022, and the first report is expected in October 2024.
- Begun a national review into services for pancreatic cancer patients to agree on how diagnosis, treatment, and care of those patients and their families can be improved.
PERT is a treatment given to some pancreatic cancer patients. It replaces the enzymes that the patients' pancreas would normally make, enabling them to digest their food. There are currently problems with PERT supplies across Europe.
In response to Mark's questions about ending shortages of PERT, the Department for Health and Social Care said it is working with suppliers to resolve the supply issues. This includes asking suppliers to expedite deliveries, source stock from other markets, and increase production.
Significant progress is needed to increase early diagnosis and reduce the survival gap between pancreatic cancer and other cancers.
To help the NHS achieve this aim, the previous Conservative government invested £4.5 million to open a new Community Diagnostic Centre in Telford last year. That new facility has conducted more than 50,000 tests and scans, helping local people get diagnosed more quickly.
Commenting, Mark said:
"I have been contacted by constituents who are being affected by the shortage of PERT, and I will continue to hold the Government to account on its plans to improve supplies."
