Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding has been allocated to radiotherapy productivity through AI; and what steps he is taking to help ensure AI-based radiotherapy technologies are deployed across all radiotherapy centres in England.

As set out in our National Cancer Plan, we want oncologists to use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with radiotherapy treatment, for example through contouring during treatment planning, which will lead to better outcomes for patients. Local systems are able to spend money on introducing AI products to improve radiotherapy productivity.

NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time programme is leading a study on how to maximise the productivity of radiotherapy services. It is expected that this study will report later this year. We will consider and implement its recommendations as soon as it is published.