Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Access to Radiotherapy

12 January 2022 · 7 other contributors · 12,128 words

Opened by Grahame Morris Lab Easington

Responding minister: Maria Caulfield

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Grahame Morris raised concerns about access to radiotherapy in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about disparities in access to radiotherapy services across England, with some patients facing long travel distances and significant waiting times.
  • Morris highlights under-investment in radiotherapy, noting that 3.5 million people do not have access to a radiotherapy centre within a 45-minute drive.
  • Morris asks the government to commit to opening new centres or expanding existing ones, especially in underserved regions like the North East.

Key requests to Government

The government should urgently address these disparities by increasing investment in radiotherapy services across the country. I ask for a commitment to open new centres or expand existing ones, especially in underserved regions like the North East. Morris urges the Minister to investigate and act urgently on bureaucratic obstacles that hinder effective treatment for patients. He asks the Minister to publish radiotherapy datasets by next month to reveal the extent of the backlog, estimated at between 50,000 and 60,000 cases. Morris also requests a meeting with radiotherapy commissioners, the Secretary of State, and representatives from the radiotherapy community to address these critical issues.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Grahame Morris Lab Easington

I am concerned about the disparity in access to radiotherapy services across different regions of England, particularly the North East. It is unacceptable that some patients have to travel hundreds of miles for treatment while others have local options. There are significant waiting times and a lack of capacity in many areas, which puts lives at risk. Morris is concerned about the under-investment in radiotherapy services and its impact on patient access, particularly in less affluent and rural areas. He highlights that only one in four people will receive radiotherapy at some point in their lifetime, yet it remains a 'Cinderella' service with chronic under-funding compared to other treatments. Morris points out that 3.5 million people in England do not have a radiotherapy centre within the recommended 45 minutes of their home. He also mentions workforce issues, with nearly 80% of professionals considering leaving due to excessive workload and travel distances.

Other contributors (7)
  • Chris Bryant Lab Rhondda and Ogmore

    The MP discussed his personal experience with melanoma, highlighting the importance of early detection. He noted a nearly 10% fall in radiotherapy usage during the previous year and expressed concern about workforce shortages across all parts of cancer care. Bryant also mentioned the need for financial rewards to encourage retired professionals back into the field and suggested that increasing capacity now and in the future is crucial. I am worried about clinical decisions being influenced by lack of facilities or staff availability, leading to later diagnosis which may worsen patient prognosis. I also inquired about adjuvant provision for stage 2 melanoma and requested the Minister to write back with details.

  • Chris Green Con Berkeley

    While I appreciate the concerns raised by my colleagues, it is important to note that there have been significant investments in radiotherapy infrastructure over recent years. We need to continue this work and explore innovative solutions such as mobile units or teletherapy.

  • Feryal Clark Lab Enfield North

    Acknowledged radiotherapy's importance as one of three pillars in cancer treatment, emphasised the impact of the pandemic on cancer treatments and highlighted severe workforce crises. Raised concerns about insufficient investment in radiotherapy technology and outdated machines. Called for a plan to improve both workforce numbers and satisfaction. I enquired about whether the figures for radiotherapy investment were for replacement or an increase. I also asked if there is a plan to expand funding beyond the current 5% allocation of the cancer budget.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon expressed gratitude for the contributions of fellow MPs and the shadow Minister in addressing radiotherapy issues. He highlighted a staggering backlog of cancer diagnoses, estimating that 47,000 people are missing a diagnosis in the UK and 32,000 in England alone waiting for treatment. Shannon raised concerns about workforce shortages and the need to increase funding for training new healthcare professionals, specifically mentioning the importance of nurse specialists. He also stressed the urgency of investing in radiotherapy technology and infrastructure, including MR linacs.

  • Mohammad Yasin Lab Bedford

    The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Middlesex provides non-surgical specialist cancer care to over 2 million people, but Bedfordshire patients must travel more than 50 miles for radiotherapy. Between 2019 and 2020, 800 patients made a three-hour round trip multiple times. Inaccessibility due to distance and cost is causing some patients to forego treatment. The average radiotherapy uptake in Luton and Bedfordshire sits at under 35%, highlighting the crisis of accessibility.

  • Sarah Owen LD Lewes

    Radiotherapy access is a critical issue that affects many constituencies. In Lewes, we have seen patients travelling long distances for treatment, impacting their quality of life and the efficiency of care. The government must provide more resources to ensure equitable access.

  • Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale

    He highlighted the personal impact of cancer, emphasizing that radiotherapy is underfunded in the UK compared to other countries. Only about £383 million is spent on radiotherapy annually, while £2 billion goes towards cancer drugs despite radiotherapy being eight times more likely to be curative than chemotherapy. He criticized the lack of a dedicated lobby for radiotherapy and the inadequate access to it in rural areas such as his constituency, where patients must travel long distances daily for treatment. Farron also addressed the backlog caused by the pandemic and called for an urgent increase in capacity through networked satellite units and targeted investment. I highlighted that radiotherapy has been used as a substitutionary treatment during the pandemic. I also questioned the data on satellite centres, noting their positive impact in increasing patient numbers and improving life expectancy.

Government Response

Maria Caulfield

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Davies. I declare an interest as a cancer nurse at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. I congratulate the hon. Member for Easington on securing this debate and raising radiotherapy's importance. During the pandemic, cancer remained a priority; however, patients were reluctant to come forward with symptoms during the first lockdown, leading to a backlog of over 10,000 daily referrals since then. While there are pressures on treatments like surgery and chemotherapy, the greatest pressure is in diagnostics. I caution Members about interpreting radiotherapy access data as it can be misleading due to its nature as an adjuvant treatment. Radiotherapy requires clinical decisions based on patient conditions and cannot always replace surgery or chemotherapy. Cancer alliances map out local services, and satellite units may not always be feasible given the specialist equipment and staff required. Elective recovery programmes have committed £2 billion this year and £8 billion over three years to tackle backlogs. There are significant improvements in radiotherapy techniques, such as stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy and proton beam therapy. The NHS is investing in state-of-the-art technology like ProKnow for virtual collaboration among clinicians. Health Education England prioritises training for cancer specialists and radiographers to enhance the workforce's skills. While staff numbers have grown by 3,342 full-time equivalents between 2016-17 and 2019-20, addressing skill mix is crucial. I am committed to investing in radiotherapy equipment, staff training, and innovation to ensure it remains a fundamental part of cancer treatment.

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