Thank you very much for contacting me about Pancreatic Cancer UK’s virtual event on 18 November, along with the use of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) to improve the quality of life for pancreatic cancer patients.
I understand that the very nature of pancreatic cancer makes it difficult to detect at an early stage, and I agree that when patients are diagnosed it is crucial that they are referred with a sense of urgency to treatment services to ensure they have every best possible chance of fighting the disease.
In Wales, those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have the lowest rate of survival, and this is due in part to the failure to diagnose the disease at the earliest opportunity and to direct the patient to treatment.
Worryingly, since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, cancer referral times have not recovered. Before the pandemic, 73.7% of patients were seen within 62 days.
The Labour Welsh Government must ensure all cancers are diagnosed and treated at the earliest opportunity during this pandemic. Therefore my colleague, the Shadow Minister for Health, Russell George MS, will raise your concerns about PERT directly with the Health Minister, Eluned Morgan MS.
Thank you again for taking the time to write to me.