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Accessibility of Radiotherapy
04 February 2025
Lead MP
Tim Farron
Westmorland and Lonsdale
LD
Responding Minister
Andrew Gwynne
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 8638
Other Contributors: 14
At a Glance
Tim Farron raised concerns about accessibility of radiotherapy in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
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.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
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.
Adam Dance
LD
Yeovil
Asked about supporting local groups providing clinical and non-clinical support for radiotherapy patients after treatment.
Alex Easton
Ind
North Down
Emphasised the need for early diagnosis to improve cancer outcomes in Northern Ireland.
Andrew Gwynne
Lab
Denton and Reddish
Responded that he would consider a meeting with Tim Farron to push for a satellite unit, acknowledging the need for improved local access.
Anna Sabine
LD
Frome and East Somerset
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.
Clive Jones
Con
Wokingham
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.
Daisy Cooper
LD
St Albans
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.
Richard Johnson
Lab
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Asked whether the Government plans to consult with clinical experts, industry, patients, or charities about how best to allocate funds for new radiotherapy machines.
Helen Morgan
LD
North Shropshire
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.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He suggests addressing recruitment and retention challenges for clinical oncologists with bursaries for students to help fill training needs, reducing student debt burdens.
Tiverton and Minehead
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.
Sorcha Eastwood
Alliance
Lagan Valley
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.
North Norfolk
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.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
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.
Torcuil Crichton
Lab
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Discussed long travel times for cancer treatment affecting his constituents, highlighting examples from Barra and the Western Isles.
Government Response
Andrew Gwynne
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Government Response
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.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.