39310 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

39310 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 on the recommended focus area ‘Strengthen mechanisms that support patients, whānau and carers to access cultural, spiritual, financial and social support throughout all stages of the cancer journey’ under ‘System-wide solution 5: Coordination and support services’ in the Cancer Control Agency ’Cancer Services Planning’ document?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during this quarter (January to March 2024), the Cancer Control Agency – Te Aho o Te Kahu has not had a work programme for this specific focus area. The Cancer Control Agency developed an initial Cancer Services Planning document in 2022 that provided an environmental scan of opportunities for improvement - however it is not an action plan with initiatives to be reported against. The current phase of this work, the development of models of care, is substantially complete and the Cancer Control Agency is engaging with Health New Zealand over their implementation. Focus areas in this document are also intended to provide focus for all agencies across the cancer sector and therefore comprehensive reporting of progress will not be possible. This Government is focused on improving cancer outcomes for New Zealanders, which is why we have made access to faster cancer treatment one of our five health targets and I am confident that our health agencies are working hard to identify opportunities to accelerate work in this area.