Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:30 pm on 25 October 2022.
Peter Fox
Conservative
2:30,
25 October 2022
Thank you, First Minister. The latest data released on cancer cases showed that, in August, only 52.5 per cent reached the Government's 62-day target of starting treatment—the lowest number since records were collected. One of my constituents has been waiting over seven months for cancer treatment. In previous years, he had mouth cancer and had accessed Hereford hospital, where he was successfully treated within three months following referral for both mouth cancer and subsequent nose cancer. Upon moving to my Constituency, he developed a small cancer on his ear, requiring a relatively small procedure. However, as a direct result of being stuck on the Welsh NHS waiting list, he is likely now to lose his hearing and his ear. What started as a small cancerous growth, which could have been removed with early Intervention, has now grown into something absolutely horrendous for the individual.
I thank the health Minister for her correspondence in relation to this, but, First Minister, whilst it's welcome news that Wales is rolling out rapid diagnosis centres, unfortunately, it's too late for my constituent. Do you agree that more action is needed to tackle lagging treatment in Wales to stop people going through such an ordeal, and what hope can the Government provide to people who are suffering like my constituent?
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In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
