Rare Cancers

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 3:05 pm on 23 March 2022.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 3:05, 23 March 2022

Thanks. Well, I think that it's fair to say that there have been issues in the past, and I think that we've made good progress since 2016. The fact is that the total number of IPFR requests is decreasing, while the proportion of those approved is increasing. So, those are the facts. So, things are definitely improving. I do think that it's fair to say—. Look, we're never going to have a situation where highly, highly specialised medicine, that you can do all of that within the confines of Wales. Frankly, if you have a very, very rare condition, then wouldn't you want to go to the best place possible in order to get that sorted? And if that's in England, so be it. That's fine. So, I think that we've just got to be realistic about getting the best care for individuals within Wales. Certainly, of course we want to try to get those treatments done as quickly as possible, but I do think that the situation has improved quite dramatically since 2016.