Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:18 pm on 6 March 2019.
Can I say how much I value the petitioning process? In this Assembly, we've had a particularly strong Petitions Committee and really interesting petitions coming forward. I congratulate the way David outlined the case in very forceful terms. It is right that we discuss these issues that our constituents feel are particularly important and ask ourselves have they seen something in the current practice or pattern of service that really needs to be addressed.
What strikes me is that there can be something of a disconnect if we're not using the most up-to-date and readily available diagnostic techniques, and getting over, as Rhun said, the tricky barriers of false negatives, false positives, and the very uncomfortable, possibly painful, biopsy procedure. So, I think it's really important that we try to move and be consistent, especially when, in fairness to the Government, there's so much public campaigning out there to be aware of your body, to be aware of some of the changes that may be taking place, and then to access tests.
So, I think, in terms of our own public engagement, of saying why we are allowing certain approaches but not others, and especially when it's patchy, so that if you live in a certain part of Wales, you do get the latest MRI technology, but not in others, that we need to be very clear about that.
I do think that it's probably time for us to have some sort of assessment and statement on screening in general, because the public do get quite mixed messages, sometimes, about its efficacy and the role NICE has played. You're being urged to take care of yourself and be attentive to any change, but then there's not always the clarity, really, of what then should follow. It reminded me of the policy we have on bowel screening. Currently, test packs get sent to anyone between 50 and 74 that wants it, but once you hit 75, it just stops. A constituent asked me why, and I tried to find out, and it didn't seem very clear to me that there was an overwhelming reason why that is the case.
So, I do think that a more comprehensive view of screening—. And it's for other cancer conditions as well that the efficacy of screening is sometimes raised. With medical science advancing, the tools available to us are ever increasing. So, I do hope the Minister will be attentive to the concerns that have been raised, and will put the patient first: clear information, then quick diagnostic services that are as good and comfortable as possible. I think it's really, really important because, as we've heard, the earlier that these cancers are detected, the prognosis improves massively. So, again, I just think we should be very grateful to the gentleman that brought this petition in, and to the good work that the Petitions Committee is doing in insisting that we debate these issues in the Chamber. Thank you.