Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Radiotherapy: Accessibility

18 July 2023 · 6 other contributors · 10,387 words

Opened by Selaine Saxby Con North Devon

Responding minister: Will Quince

NHS

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Selaine Saxby raised concerns about radiotherapy: accessibility in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Selaine Saxby is concerned about the accessibility of radiotherapy in North Devon, where only 4.7% of the population lives within the recommended 45-minute travel time for treatment.
  • Selaine Saxby mentions that 3 million people have been waiting over 18 weeks for cancer treatments, and only 61.7% receive their first treatment within two months.
  • Selaine Saxby asks the Government to consider bringing radiotherapy services closer to remote areas like North Devon through satellite centres or community cancer treatment hubs.

Key requests to Government

Selaine Saxby asks the Government to consider bringing radiotherapy services closer to remote areas like North Devon through satellite centres or community cancer treatment hubs. She recommends trialling a new radiotherapy machine in North Devon, potentially through partnership with local fundraising efforts and the Ministry of Health. Additionally, she requests investment in modernising and supporting radiotherapy treatments to ensure equitable access regardless of location.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Selaine Saxby Con North Devon

Selaine Saxby is concerned about the accessibility of radiotherapy for her constituents in North Devon, where only 4.7% live within the recommended 45-minute travel time for treatment. She mentioned that 3 million people have been waiting over 18 weeks for cancer treatments and only 61.7% receive their first treatment within two months, far below the operational standard of 85%. In North Devon, many patients choose not to undergo radiotherapy due to the long distances required for daily treatments, impacting both patients' health and volunteer drivers. The lack of specialist staff and funding is also highlighted as a significant issue.

Other contributors (6)
  • Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton

    Andrew Gwynne highlighted the importance of radiotherapy, sharing his personal experiences with cancer affecting his family. He noted that only 58.7% of people in England are receiving their first cancer treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral, down from 61% in April and far below the target of 85%. Gwynne also mentioned concerns about outdated technology and infrastructure in radiology services, which hinder staff efficiency.

  • Grahame Morris Lab Easington

    Morris agrees with the debate's importance and highlights the need for investment in radiotherapy. He stresses that only 27% of cancer patients currently access radiotherapy, far below the international recommendation of 50-53%. Morris also points out that England has fewer radiotherapy machines per million people than Italy or France and calls for a £200m investment to update outdated equipment and reduce waiting times. Mr Morris expressed frustration with the turnover of cancer Ministers and the lack of progress despite calls for increased treatment capacity. He highlighted that community diagnostic hubs are beneficial but need to be paired with enhanced treatment facilities, otherwise waiting lists will grow.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Compliments the hon. Member for bringing up an important issue and highlights the shortage of radiotherapists, with England lacking around 1,500 professionals and Northern Ireland also facing vacancies.

  • Margaret Ferrier SNP Rutherglen and Hamilton West

    Radiotherapy is the second most effective cancer treatment, yet access varies significantly across postcodes. Over 3.4 million people cannot access radiotherapy without a travel time exceeding 45 minutes. AI technology is proving to be an asset in improving cancer treatment outcomes, with Radiotherapy UK stating that a £4 million investment could enhance NHS workforce capacity and reduce wait times. This investment would cost between £15 to £40 per patient.

  • Oliver Heald Con North East Hertfordshire

    Suggests that satellite radiotherapy centres would be beneficial for reducing travel times for patients from north Hertfordshire to Hillingdon. In my constituency, patients start radiotherapy at Mount Vernon Hospital but struggle with the long journey and often give up due to it being too difficult to continue.

  • Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale

    He thanked the workforce delivering radiotherapy, highlighting the disparity between international standards for radiotherapy usage at 53% compared to UK's 27%. He mentioned that the UK spends only 5% of its cancer budget on radiotherapy, significantly less than other similar countries. Tim Farron pointed out that there are 4.9 linear accelerators per 1 million people in the UK, while France has 8.5; this discrepancy means the UK needs an additional 125 machines to meet average standards. He emphasised the need for investment in new technology and workforce support, noting the potential of AI software to improve patient care planning efficiency. Additionally, he discussed the radiotherapy deserts affecting over 3.5 million people, making travel difficult and impacting treatment completion rates. Mr Farron questioned the commissioning process for radiotherapy equipment replacement and raised concerns about disincentives preventing hospitals from using modern machines. He also inquired about the role of integrated care boards in deciding locations for new treatment centres.

Government Response

Will Quince

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Maria. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Selaine Saxby) for securing this important debate on the accessibility of radiotherapy and acknowledge the consensus across all parties on the need for change. The Minister highlights that performance levels for first cancer treatment following urgent referral have been consistently above pre-pandemic levels, with over 332,000 people receiving their first treatment in the 12 months up to May, a significant increase from before the pandemic. He mentions the Government's commitment of £8 billion by 2024-25 to drive up elective activity, including cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as the building of community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs closer to communities for improved access. The Minister also addresses concerns about the workforce, stating that while progress has been made in growing the cancer workforce with an increase of over 11,300 staff since February 2010, more needs to be done. He outlines investments in radiotherapy equipment, including £162 million since 2016 for cutting-edge machines and a stocktake of linear accelerator age planned by NHS England. The Minister commits to meeting with MPs to discuss challenges and solutions, emphasizing the importance of integrated care boards (ICBs) in decision-making. Regarding travel, the Minister explains that decisions about treatment locations are made on a case-by-case basis based on patient-specific requirements and the need for specialised services often unavailable in local hospitals. He notes the Government's efforts to reduce unnecessary travel through bolstering the specialist workforce and investing in new radiotherapy machines, with £2.4 billion of funding committed up to 2028-29. The Minister acknowledges ongoing work on AI in healthcare, including an additional £21 million for AI roll-out across the NHS, aimed at improving diagnosis and reducing waiting times. He concludes by expressing his commitment to meeting MPs to further discuss these issues and bring about improved cancer outcomes.

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