Lymphatic Cancer

Mr. Morley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Life Checks proposed in the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper will include lymphatic cancer indicators.

Caroline Flint
The purpose of national health service life checks is to highlight modifiable health behaviours and aspects of lifestyle that are risk factors for poor health. These will include smoking, diet and nutrition, physical activity, alcohol, stress and emotional well-being. The mid-life life check for people aged 45-60 will have a particular focus on assessing people's risk of vascular disease, the leading cause of death and disability in England. There will not be a specific emphasis on assessing risks for or symptoms of lymphatic cancer.

Mr. Amess
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed revisions to the payment by results tariff will take into account the care, support and treatment needs of lymphoma patients.

Andy Burnham
The “Options for the Future of Payment by Results: 2008-09 to 2010-11” sets out plans for extending the scope of payment by results. The consultation is due to complete on 22 June 2007 and the Department will issue a response to the consultation in autumn 2007. Copies have been placed in the Library.

The consultation document outlines how tariffs for radiotherapy and chemotherapy could be introduced in 2009-10.

However, social care is currently outside the scope of payment by results. Care and support services other than those provided during a patient's stay in hospital or as an outpatient where care is consultant-led, are excluded from tariff. Funding for services that are outside the scope of, or excluded from, payment by results is agreed locally between commissioners and providers.