EDM 1366: Brain tumour diagnosis

That this House recognises the urgent need to improve diagnostic pathways for brain tumours, the largest cancer killer of the under 40s; notes with concern the findings of The Brain Tumour Charity’s April 2025 report entitled Exploring GP Access to Imaging in England, which highlights significant delays in diagnosis, with 45% of patients in England diagnosed via emergency presentation and 41% of brain tumour patients seeing a GP three or more times before diagnosis; expresses alarm at the widespread lack of awareness among GPs of NHS England’s 2023 direct access imaging guidance and the postcode lottery in access to MRI and CT head scans; further notes the lack of clear referral pathways and radiology capacity as key barriers to effective use of direct access; urges the Government to respond to the report’s seven key recommendations, including universal commissioning of direct access imaging, creation of full diagnostic pathways, and the development of a National Brain Tumour Strategy; and calls on the Government to urgently work with integrated care boards to consider these recommendations and improve outcomes for patients facing this devastating disease.