I don’t think the way in which you’ve characterised the way that general practitioners approach their job is particularly fair. I do think there is a serious case, though, about improving the number and the quality of referrals. This is a really big challenge for the health service, because the overwhelming majority of people referred in with suspected cancer are actually given the all clear. So, we already have a significant undertaking where we’re looking for the minority of people who are referred in and who are then told that there is a form of cancer to be treated.

It is also the case that cancer referrals have gone up significantly in this last year. They’re up 12 per cent within this year alone, and it is about how we continue to improve the rate of referral, but also what the conversion rate is as well, because, within health boards, there are different referral rates, but also different conversion rates. So, for those who aren’t aware, the conversion rate is the number of people who are referred in and then go on to be told that they have a particular cancer. That may be about the communities themselves. It may also be about the numbers of people and how and why they are being referred in. It’s really important again that we have a properly reflective approach where general practitioners are able to talk to each other, and other actors within the service, to understand what is happening and the outcomes they’re delivering for their patients. I think there’s got to be a properly reflective and supportive approach as opposed to looking to say that there will be blame apportioned to GPs, who are being told that they are doing their job in their wrong way. I think that’s unlikely to see the sort of reflective and positive approach that people want to take. Let’s not forget that people make a choice to go into medicine to care for people and to help improve lives, and we need to help them to do their job as well as being properly reflective of where that improvement is required.