The final item of business this evening is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14784, in the name of Clare Adamson, on pancreatic cancer awareness month and world pancreatic cancer day 2024. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible, and I invite Clare Adamson to open the debate.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament marks Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place every November, and World Pancreatic Cancer Day, which takes place on 21 November 2024; believes that, for decades, pancreatic cancer has been left behind, receiving just 3% of the UK cancer research budget; considers that an increase in long-term investment in such research could transform persistent low survival rates; welcomes Pancreatic Cancer UK’s recent announcement of nearly £600,000 in funding for research taking place in Scotland into early diagnosis and treatment for the disease; acknowledges that pancreatic cancer is tough to detect and diagnose and understands that, once diagnosed, only three out of 10 people get any treatment, the lowest proportion of all cancer types; acknowledges that half of people die within three months of diagnosis; believes that, once diagnosed, people often face obstacles getting the information and care that they need to be well enough to have treatment, with scarce patient experience data and many people feeling “written off”, with no support plan in place or help to manage symptoms; understands that, at present, there are shortages in the availability of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), directly affecting the quality of life for people living with pancreatic cancer and other conditions; commends the health professionals and pancreatic cancer charities coming together to develop holistic support and guidance on what to do if a patient is running low or cannot get PERT; further commends all of the charities and activist organisations, and their dedicated supporters, on what it sees as their tireless efforts to improve outcomes for people with this condition, and wishes everyone involved with Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and World Pancreatic Cancer Day every success in raising awareness of this devastating disease.
17:23
It is an unusual night when we have two members’ business debates back to back. Nonetheless, we have had a sea of purple all evening in the gallery with those who have come to recognise and mark both world pancreatic cancer day, which is on 21 November 2024, and the fact that November marks pancreatic cancer awareness month.
I welcome to the gallery many people from Pancreatic Cancer UK with whom I have campaigned over the years—Dawn Crosby, Carol O’Connor, Ian Thomson, Wendy Thomson and Brian Green—and those from Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland who have joined us this evening—Fiona Brown, Ross Carter and, as always, the person who has inspired me to do this every year, Lynda Murray.
We know and have discussed many times the issues around pancreatic cancer, why it is such a problematic cancer and why it is so important that we shine a light on the issues around it every year. It feels as though pancreatic cancer has been left behind, receiving just 3 per cent of the UK cancer research budget. Pancreatic Cancer UK’s recent announcement of almost £600,000 in funding for research that is taking place in Scotland into early diagnosis and treatment for the disease is very welcome. The announcement acknowledges how important that research will be, as only three out of 10 people will receive any treatment after diagnosis, which is the lowest proportion of all cancer types. It also acknowledges that, as we know, half of people with the cancer will die within three months of diagnosis.
This year, we have also been alerted to the fact that there is a shortage in available pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy—PERT—that will directly affect the quality of life of those who are living with pancreatic cancer and other conditions. We commend the health professional and pancreatic cancer charities for coming together to develop holistic support and guidance on what to do if a patient is running low on or cannot get PERT. I will discuss that further later.
As always, we must thank the campaigners in the gallery who have worked tirelessly during the year to raise funds and to educate the public on the symptoms of pancreatic cancer. We also thank those brave campaigners who, over the years, have shared the experiences of their loved ones as well as their own situation with pancreatic cancer. Very few survivors can come and speak to us, for all the reasons that I have just outlined, but there are people who have managed to survive for more than 10 years who are a very small part of the pancreatic cancer community.
As always, we need to shift the narrative to better outcomes for people who are living with pancreatic cancer. The devastating impact that it has on someone’s personal life needs to change. It is the deadliest common cancer in Scotland. Only one in four people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survives beyond one year, and the five-year survival rate in Scotland is only 7.3 per cent. Across other cancers, the average five-year survival rate is 69 per cent. That is the quantum and scope of the issue with pancreatic cancer and the reason why we have to shift the dial for those who have been diagnosed.
Approximately 900 people in Scotland are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year, and there are more than 10,500 cases in the UK. It is the 12th most common cancer in Scotland, but it is responsible for the sixth-highest number of cancer deaths—a disproportionate effect for those who are suffering with it.
Hard-to-treat cancers must be a priority, and there is a clear need for research. Cancer Research UK notes that the overall survival rate for most cancers has doubled in the past 50 years, but survival rates for pancreatic cancer have barely shifted. More than 80 per cent of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at a late stage. That emphasises the need for targeted research so that we can better understand the pathology of the disease and improve the treatment pathway and patient support.
I mentioned PERT shortages earlier. PERT is a capsule that can help people to manage the digestive symptoms of pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, neuroendocrine cancer and pancreatitis. It is taken with food and it replaces the vital enzymes that help people to break down and get nutrients from their food, as that does not happen naturally for people with such illnesses.
The absence of PERT can have a devastating impact on people’s lives. Without access to it, people can become malnourished—can even literally starve to death. In the past nine months, there have been intermittent shortages across the United Kingdom, which is expected to be an issue until at least 2026. That is due to a lack of the raw material that is used to make PERT, and limited manufacturing capacity. We are therefore calling on the UK Government to develop a national action plan to proactively address and resolve PERT shortages. The UK Government must ensure that the UK’s PERT market share matches the demand for PERT across the UK. That includes ensuring that alternative brands of PERT are imported if required.
I will mention the Scottish hepato-pancreato-biliary—Scot HPB—pathway pilot. Ross Carter, the clinician who has been fundamental to that pilot, is in the public gallery this evening. The HPB cancers pathway is a diagnostic pathway pilot that offers people who are diagnosed with pancreatic or liver cancer in Scotland the biggest hope of accessing treatment as quickly as possible. I restate that most pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed at a very late stage. I have worked with and had the pleasure of seeing the work that Dr Carter and Lynda Murray have led for a long time. The Government extended the pilot, with a view to its being embedded into the pathways for cancer. I am interested in hearing the minister’s view on what might happen next with that pathway.
Again, I thank the people in the gallery for all the work that they do in highlighting the issue and the challenges of pancreatic cancer and in educating people on its symptoms, to ensure that most people are aware and get the help that they need in a timely manner.
17:32
I thank Clare Adamson for securing the debate and for her campaigning on the issue, which is an important one. A number of us have spoken in what has become an annual debate. I welcome the fact that we have such a commitment. As Clare Adamson did, I welcome to the public gallery the many campaigners who have pushed the Parliament in the right direction on this issue. It is important that we recognise them as advocates and crusaders around pancreatic cancer. We know why they do that, and we know why many of us want to speak in the debate: each of us will have lost a family member, a work colleague, a family friend or—given our job—even constituents. That is why we want things to improve. All of us, across all parties, agree on that.
In most years, the debate around pancreatic cancer awareness month will be consensual and will point to the making of welcome progress. However, I feel that this year is different, having spoken to campaigners and read the briefings that we have received ahead of the debate, which raise serious concerns, as Clare Adamson mentioned, about the Scot HPB pathway and the future opportunities that it presents. We need to raise those concerns in the debate. In the time that I have, I will concentrate my remarks on that.
As co-convener of the cross-party group on cancer, I have been made aware of the concerns about a move to a regional approach rather than the national approach to pancreatic cancer that was being developed by the Government very effectively and was welcomed by many people working in the cancer community. However, it feels as though that approach is now under threat. Pancreatic Cancer Action’s briefing for the debate makes specific reference to the fact that, in December 2023—a week before Christmas—the Scottish Government surprisingly announced that it was cancelling the project, despite significant improvements in outcomes for patients. Thanks to campaigning by patients—many of whom are in the public gallery—the Government eventually reversed that decision and restarted the project.
If we fast forward to now, we see the Golden Jubilee and other hospitals being ruled out as national hosts, with a push back towards having a regional model. I think that that would be a step backwards and hope that ministers, in response to this debate, will consider where we are today and how that national approach can be taken forward and developed as part of the Government’s national cancer strategy. We know the positive outcomes that that could have, particularly when treatment decisions are taken by multidisciplinary teams treating pancreatic cancer.
We have heard the call for action from charities and campaigners. I hope that, in responding to the debate, the minister will look at what has been outlined. I know that she has had briefings and is acutely aware of the concerns and hope that she will also agree to meet to discuss the situation with charities and with the members who have spoken in this debate. Scotland has made great progress, some of it world leading, but I am concerned that that is now at risk. We must deal with that and ensure that we get back on track.
As Clare Adamson outlined, the outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients are still not improving quickly enough. That model could have addressed that, so we must ensure that it is protected and taken forward.
I welcome the debate and the opportunity for us to raise the issue. I again congratulate all those involved in the awareness week and thank them for the work that they do all year round. We must ensure that that is celebrated and acknowledged by Parliament.
17:36
I am grateful to my colleague Clare Adamson for securing this incredibly important debate during pancreatic cancer awareness month and ahead of world pancreatic cancer day. Since being elected in 2021, I have spoken in three debates brought to the chamber by my colleagues Clare Adamson and Willie Coffey during pancreatic cancer awareness month, and I will always feel that it is incredibly important to speak on the issue. I also extend my sincere thanks to wonderful charities such as Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland and Pancreatic Cancer UK and to the other dedicated organisations that are at the forefront of raising awareness and fighting for better outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer.
Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is a silent killer, because its early symptoms are difficult to spot, and only one in four people who is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survives for more than a year. That is why raising awareness is so crucial to early detection and to improving patient experience and overall outcomes. It is therefore important to reiterate the common symptoms, which are: a yellow tinge to the skin or eyes; darker urine; paler poo; itchy skin; loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to; feeling tired or having no energy; a high temperature; and feeling hot or shivery.
Education is a powerful tool in the fight against pancreatic cancer and, although our understanding of the disease is somewhat limited, we know that factors such as smoking, obesity or a family history of the disease can increase the risk of getting it.
According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, about 900 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Scotland each year and more than 10,500 are diagnosed across the UK. They are our loved ones, friends and community members. Those figures are bleak, but it is important to highlight them so that we can call more urgently for greater action, because we need to do more.
Despite those challenges, there are glimmers of hope. We in Scotland are fortunate to have some of the best researchers and medical institutions working tirelessly to fight the disease. It was good to read about the University of Glasgow and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s recent pancreatic cancer research programme, which will evaluate a new drug combination as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. That is a really important step in the pursuit of new treatments to improve the outcomes for individuals who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and I really hope that it will prove to be successful.
The Scottish Government is committed to making progress through the Scottish HepatoPancreatoBiliary Network, which has been awarded £653,000 over two years to redesign the pancreatic and liver cancer treatment pathways. It is the first service in the United Kingdom to deliver a national approach to improving the pathways of both pancreatic and hepatocellular cancer patients. The project has resulted in significant improvements in patient care, across all 14 health boards, in the majority of performance indicators that are measured. It is welcome that consideration is being given to exploring the options for sustained delivery of its positive outcomes after March 2025.
I conclude by paying tribute to my constituents who have sadly lost their lives because of pancreatic cancer: Helen, Donald, Billy and Christine will be forever missed by family, friends and loved ones, but they will never be forgotten. We must work together in their memory, and in the memory of others, to do everything that we can to raise awareness of this disease and to push for better survival rates.
17:40
I thank Clare Adamson for bringing the debate to the chamber. On behalf of Scottish Labour, I mark pancreatic cancer awareness month and world pancreatic cancer day, which, as we have heard, takes place on 21 November.
Raising awareness of illnesses such as pancreatic cancer is absolutely pivotal in ensuring early diagnosis and improving prognosis. During my three years in the Parliament, Clare Adamson has truly played her part in that regard, and I thank her for doing so. In one of the very first debates in which I participated, I shared my story of a close family friend’s experience. I have been here for other such debates in the years since, and I appreciate how often Clare Adamson brings the issue to the chamber.
The key point that I will make is that the situation is urgent. Others have mentioned the reasons why, which I will go over, but we must make advancements in the treatment options and address the health inequalities in what is often a very late-diagnosed condition. As we have heard this evening—it is worth saying it again—80 per cent of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at a late stage and more than half of people die within three months of diagnosis. We can see why much needs to be done to raise awareness of symptoms and that the Government has a huge responsibility to ensure that the national health service is in a position to encourage and support research efforts and to do important work around early diagnosis.
We know that there must be urgent changes to funding in Scotland for research into pancreatic cancer. Many of the briefings make that point to members, and I am sure that the minister will have heard that, too. I hope that she will respond to that point in her closing remarks.
As the motion states, the £600,000 of funding for early diagnosis and treatment is very welcome, but we must have confidence that there will be more and continued funding of the research part of the NHS. I read the briefing notes on that, and I noted that the importance of research to advancements in treatment cannot be overstated. I thank all the researchers and, of course, the patients and families who participate in the research and contribute to that life-saving and valuable work.
I also thank the various organisations that have contacted me and other members ahead of today’s debate with their briefings. They highlight the sheer scale of the challenge that we face and the fact that we must move forward with some urgency on pancreatic cancer care.
Like Miles Briggs, I ask the minister to respond on the potential closure of the national service that is known as the Scot HPB national care pathway. From what I have read in the briefings and in other papers, there does not seem to be any commitment after March 2025. It is important for us to understand what the Government is considering. The concern is that, if the service reverts to regional guidance, regional variation will reappear and health inequalities will continue to worsen, because funding is precarious.
Members will know that I repeatedly raise the issue of health inequalities in the chamber. We know that those in our most deprived communities are more likely to get cancer and, tragically, to die from it. I know that we all agree that that is absolutely unacceptable, so I ask the minister to consider whether we can do anything to make that situation better, because if we can, we should do it. I hope that the minister and the Government are making successful decisions on that point.
I thank Clare Adamson and other fellow members who have contributed to the debate.
17:45
I thank my colleague Clare Adamson for bringing this important debate to the chamber this year and for her very informative speech. I also thank all those who offered us briefings for the debate to help us get across the message about pancreatic cancer. As we all know, November is pancreatic cancer awareness month, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to speak in this annual debate and to show my support.
We have heard from members across the chamber about their personal experiences as well as those of their constituents. Every year, I mention my mother, who died from this awful disease in 1985. She went far too soon, at only 52 years old. I feel that I have lived alongside that cancer for the past 40 years, and I just want to tell the minister that I do not intend to let go.
As we have heard, pancreatic cancer is probably the most stubborn cancer in Scotland, and it is important for us as elected members to use this platform to raise public awareness. Repeating the symptoms to look out for is really important, because catching the disease early could be critical.
The difficulty is that a person who might have pancreatic cancer might not have any noticeable symptoms at all, or their symptoms might be really difficult to spot. My colleague Marie McNair mentioned a few of them. Some typical symptoms might be loss of weight, loss of appetite, indigestion and nausea, and even a yellowing of the eyes, which is a pointer to possible jaundice. The clear message to people is to get in touch with their general practitioner if they have any concerns. It is not certain that those symptoms mean that they have the disease, but the earlier they get checked, the better.
The fact is that 70 per cent of people with the cancer never get any treatment, and Scotland seems to be one of the worst in that regard—I do not understand why. After all, getting checked and treated early can improve survival rates for this incredibly stubborn disease.
As for what has been done to try to overcome it, I note that, in 2023-24, Cancer Research UK spent more than £31 million in Scotland, £9 million of which was on pancreatic cancer. Results of its trials showed that chemotherapy after surgery for pancreatic cancer can almost treble short-term survival for people with the disease.
Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Scot HPB pilot, which members have mentioned, resulted in significant improvements across all the measured key performance indicators for pancreatic cancer patients. Improvements such as reducing the waiting time between imaging and starting patient treatment from 54 days to 38 days, reducing the wait time for patients with initial suspicion of cancer to diagnosis and speeding up how quickly patients receive contact from a specialist HPB nurse are part of the basket of actions that can help improve survival rates.
Moreover, Pancreatic Cancer UK has awarded almost £500,000 to researchers at the University of Glasgow to uncover why pancreatic cysts develop into pancreatic cancer, which around 10 per cent of pancreatic cysts apparently do. Given that just over 292,000 people in Scotland over the age of 60 have a pancreatic cyst, a frightening 29,000 people could go on to develop pancreatic cancer, so understanding how cysts develop into cancer is crucial if we are to reduce the number of such cases.
I cannot emphasise enough the need to maintain the successful research that we already know is working, and I firmly hope that the Scottish Government will be able to give some assurances on that today, if possible. Every year, the research seems to make good progress.
Once again, I thank my colleague Clare Adamson for bringing the issue to the Parliament’s attention. I am delighted to have once again made a contribution to this incredibly important subject this year.
17:50
I thank Clare Adamson for bringing this members’ business debate to the chamber.
It is important that we raise awareness of all cancers and not try to hide the subject under the carpet, as we did in the past when we talked about “the big C”. It was as though, if we did not mention it, it might go away.
Sadly, that is most definitely not the case when it comes to pancreatic cancer, which, as we have heard, is one of the six less survivable cancers. In Scotland we need urgent action leading to earlier and faster diagnosis, faster pathways and greater investment in research. It goes without saying that the work of the less survivable cancers task force has been nothing short of remarkable and should be commended.
As we know, the less survivable cancers are cancers of the lung, liver, brain, oesophagus, pancreas and stomach. Annually, 9,000 people are diagnosed with a less survivable cancer in Scotland, and, tragically, some of them face only a 16 per cent chance of surviving for five years.
What is encouraging is that Scotland is starting to lead the way in tackling such cancers, although we can never become complacent in this battle. Considerably more needs to be done to identify them, and that should be a strategic priority in the 10-year cancer strategy. As has been mentioned, we need earlier and faster diagnosis, as that will lead to patients being treated much more quickly.
We as MSPs must raise awareness of less survivable cancers not just during awareness week, which runs from 13 to 17 January, or on world pancreatic cancer day on 21 November, when we will all once again wear purple. We must do so whenever possible, as on this occasion.
The current key area of concern is making progress on improving pathways for people with pancreatic and liver cancer. Unfortunately, half of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Scotland die within three months. The figures make grim reading. Every year, 880 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with 810 of them likely to die.
Sadly, the survival rate is not great, with only almost three in 10 people surviving for a year or more. Late diagnosis is a common and hugely important factor that influences the long-term outcome. Identification of the cancer at an advanced stage, as happens in the majority of cases, means that the number of treatment options and people’s survival chances are reduced.
The Scottish care and co-ordination service for hepatobiliary pancreatic cancers provides a very important solution to improving outcomes for people with liver and pancreatic cancer. We can take some comfort in the knowledge that Scotland is leading the way in delivering and supporting expedited diagnostic pathways that will improve outcomes for those cancer emergencies.
There is also much-improved communication in relation to the speed with which GPs inform patients. They get informed after as little as one day—down from 31 days—with treatment pathways shortened by an average of 37 per cent. Specifically, the time for GP communication for pancreatic cancer is down 75 per cent, from eight days to two.
The task force is now urging us to support the Scottish HPB cancer service as a national initiative, instead of reverting to a regional model that, historically, has been less effective. I certainly do not want people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Dumfries and Galloway being pointed to a palliative care solution rather than an operative solution because of the financial implications, while a patient in Edinburgh might be treated completely differently.
Equity of access is, of course, the key reason for a national approach. A national model will ensure uniform care across all regions; help to reduce the health inequalities that affect many people who live in rural areas; and improve cancer outcomes throughout Scotland. A single well-supported national team will be more sustainable than roles being replicated across regions; after all, a shift to regional delivery runs the risk of inadequate staffing and might lead to service gaps.
As we are aware, Scotland has faced record long cancer waiting times, about which the SNP Government should hang—and has hung—its head in shame, and I hope that the co-ordinated pathway proves to be a step towards addressing those delays. The nationwide roll-out of the Scottish HPB pathway is vital to guaranteeing waiting times and equality of access to care for patients with liver and pancreatic cancer, and will signal what should be the Scottish Government’s commitment to high-quality accessible cancer care for all.
We should also welcome the advice of experts and whole-heartedly provide them with the support and financial investment necessary to give people a fighting chance against this cancer.
My contribution to the pancreatic cancer debate has largely featured facts and figures, but that does not change the fact that we must put friends and family at the centre of our thoughts. I have committed to contributing to the debate on pancreatic cancer every time that it is brought to the chamber, in memory of my good friends, Mark Caygill and Peter Murray Usher, who were taken far too quickly by pancreatic cancer and are dearly missed.
Thank you very much indeed, Mr Carson. I call Jenni Minto to respond to the debate, on behalf of the Government, for around seven minutes.
17:56
I thank my colleague Clare Adamson for bringing the motion to the chamber today and reminding us of the impact that pancreatic cancer can have on all of us. I think that every member who contributed talked about somebody in their lives who was lost to pancreatic cancer, and I have lost close friends, too.
I thank Pancreatic Cancer UK, Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland and the range of other pancreatic cancer charities for their continued efforts to raise awareness and to support people who face pancreatic cancer. As Clare Adamson and other members did, I welcome their sea of purple to the Scottish Parliament.
I also thank colleagues for sharing such valuable contributions to the debate. Willie Coffey and Marie McNair both listed the symptoms. That is really important, because we can use our positions to let people know what the symptoms are. Before I spoke in a similar debate in my first year in Parliament, the sister-in-law of one of my constituents had given me the salient piece of advice that we should recognise and listen to changes in our bodies and do something about them.
As has been mentioned, the Scottish Government published our ambitious 10-year cancer strategy in June last year. We remain determined to improve cancer survival rates and provide excellent and equitable care for all people who face cancer. The strategy takes a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways in cancer, from prevention and diagnosis right through to treatment and post-treatment care. We continue to focus on improving the outcomes of the less survivable cancers, including pancreatic cancer, and I pay tribute to the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce.
As Willie Coffey and other members said, research and innovation are essential if we are to continue to develop new and effective approaches to improve diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Through our chief scientist office, the Scottish Government supports grant and fellowship schemes for health research in Scotland. We are funding a clinical academic fellowship and, alongside NHS Education for Scotland, we have recently provided funding for a postdoctoral clinical lectureship. Both those roles are at the University of Glasgow and involve research that relates to pancreatic cancer.
The chief scientist office also provides a range of funding and support through NHS Research Scotland, which allows health boards to host and participate in clinical research studies and trials. That helps to foster a strong research culture in our NHS, and we are supporting a range of clinical studies that are investigating different treatments for pancreatic cancer.
In partnership with Cancer Research UK, we co-fund the experimental cancer medicine centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Those centres form part of a UK-wide network that supports the delivery of early-phase cancer studies.
I welcome Pancreatic Cancer UK’s research investment of more than £1 million in Scotland, and I was pleased to hear its recent announcement of nearly £600,000 to support research into early diagnosis and treatment. As Clare Adamson and Carol Mochan said, that is life-saving and valuable work.
As we know, November is pancreatic cancer awareness month. To mark that and world pancreatic cancer day, we will again light up St Andrew’s house in purple on 21 November. As Willie Coffey said, raising awareness of pancreatic cancer and its common symptoms is crucial in detecting this devastating cancer early, to ensure the most appropriate care and optimal experience for people with pancreatic cancer.
We recognise how important it is that people are diagnosed and supported through treatment and care as quickly as possible. As Finlay Carson and other members said, late diagnosis is a concern, which is why the Scottish Government continues to invest in our detect cancer earlier programme, because we understand that the earlier cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat.
We reran our successful awareness campaign “Be the early bird” back in August. That campaign aims to reduce the fear of cancer and to empower and encourage those with possible symptoms to act as early as possible.
By continuing to invest in cancer diagnostics and waiting times, we are striving to detect cancer earlier and faster. We are optimising diagnostic pathways and will activate an additional rapid cancer diagnostic service early next year, which will bring the national total to six. It is important to recognise that the rapid cancer diagnostic services are finding cancer faster and that human papillomavirus cancers, which include pancreatic cancer, are one of the most commonly identified cancers through those services, making up 17 per cent of them in a recent evaluation.
We acknowledge the dreadful impact that a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can bring to the person who is facing the disease and to their family. The importance of person-centred care cannot be stressed enough. It ensures that all patients get access to support throughout their cancer journey and that their voices and needs are heard.
The Scottish Government continues to support the single point of contact programme in 12 sites across Scotland. The programme sets out to make sure that all people who are facing cancer have a constant point of contact that they can continually refer back to. That is so important in improving the patient’s experience as they progress through investigation, treatment and post-treatment support. The single point of contact will ensure that patients receive timely and accurate advice on their appointments, tests and results. It will also offer them the opportunity to discuss the non-clinical support that is available, which includes linking them with other organisations that can provide the support that is needed. We have commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to consider how best to scale up that approach to benefit all patients.
As was highlighted earlier, we have invested in the pilot Scottish care and co-ordination service for hepato-pancreato-biliary cancers as a potential way of delivering pathway improvements. Our initial investment in that pilot was extended for a further year to March 2025 to allow us to consider how best to take forward the learning from that work. Following an extensive appraisal, we are actively considering how best to improve patient pathways in an equitable, evidenced and sustainable way. I appreciate the points that have been made tonight, and I understand that the cabinet secretary is meeting the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Pancreatic Cancer Action and the British Liver Trust later this month. I am also happy to meet the task force, but that meeting is in the diary.
I make clear the Scottish Government’s enduring commitment to improving pancreatic cancer awareness. In doing so, we can improve early diagnosis rates as well as the patient’s experience and overall outcomes. It is crucial that we continue to raise awareness of cancer symptoms—particularly of less survivable cancers such as pancreatic cancer. I gratefully thank all those who are helping to do so.
Meeting closed at 18:04.