House of Commons · Westminster Hall
04 February 2025 · 14 other contributors · 8,638 words
Opened by Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Responding minister: Andrew Gwynne
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Tim Farron raised concerns about accessibility of radiotherapy in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Tim Farron asks for a satellite radiotherapy unit at Westmorland general hospital in Kendal as part of the Rosemere unit to replicate the model of successful satellite units around the UK, which would attract more patients and provide better access to treatment.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Three quarters of Tim Farron's constituents in Westmorland live dangerously too far from radiotherapy treatment. The two, three or four-hour round trip to the Rosemere cancer unit at Preston is not just inconvenient but debilitating and cruel for many, affecting their ability to complete or even start their treatment. Some do not get referred for radiotherapy in the first place due to distance.
Asked about supporting local groups providing clinical and non-clinical support for radiotherapy patients after treatment.
Emphasised the need for early diagnosis to improve cancer outcomes in Northern Ireland.
Responded that he would consider a meeting with Tim Farron to push for a satellite unit, acknowledging the need for improved local access.
She highlights that nobody in her constituency who does not own a car lives within the recommended 45-minute NHS travel time for radiotherapy, stressing the importance of reliable public transport.
Radiotherapy access is constrained geographically, exacerbated by a significant workforce challenge. The Royal College of Radiologists highlights a projected 40% shortfall in radiologists by 2028, with recruitment freezes leading to burnout and early retirement among consultants. The MP raised concerns about waiting times for cancer treatment and the need for a comprehensive long-term strategic plan for radiotherapy.
She supports shortening travel times for radiotherapy by relocating the Mount Vernon cancer centre to Watford General if the new hospital programme goes ahead sooner than planned.
Asked whether the Government plans to consult with clinical experts, industry, patients, or charities about how best to allocate funds for new radiotherapy machines.
Cancer services have declined to an unacceptable level. In her constituency, only just over half of patients requiring radiotherapy met the 62-day treatment standard in September 2024.
He suggests addressing recruitment and retention challenges for clinical oncologists with bursaries for students to help fill training needs, reducing student debt burdens.
She points out that local transport issues contribute to only 35% of cases using radiotherapy, rather than the recommended 50%, highlighting the critical impact of distance on treatment access.
She commends the debate's focus on satellite centres and stresses that efforts to tackle cancer should not be limited by geographical boundaries, advocating for cooperation across regions.
He agrees that fixing public transport infrastructure and making more services available closer to where people are, such as at Cromer hospital in his constituency, is key to tackling the issue of radiotherapy access.
Asked the Minister to meet him and local oncologists to discuss a radiotherapy satellite centre in Kendal. Encouraged MPs to join the all-party parliamentary group on radiotherapy, highlighted the need for constant leadership within NHS England for change in radiotherapy access, argued that radiotherapy benefits the economy by enabling people to return to work, shared a case study of a satellite unit increasing patient numbers beyond initial projections.
Discussed long travel times for cancer treatment affecting his constituents, highlighting examples from Barra and the Western Isles.
Government Response
Andrew GwynneThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Minister confirmed that the national cancer plan will include radiotherapy. He also committed to working with Radiotherapy UK and others to ensure the plan addresses the needs of patients over the next decade, aiming to return NHS waiting times to constitutional standards. Announced £70 million investment in new radiotherapy machines to reduce waiting times and improve treatment efficiency. Emphasised the need for local systems to address accessibility issues, particularly in rural areas. Highlighted steps towards a national cancer plan focusing on reducing lives lost to cancer.