Radiotherapy

(asked on 16th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has put in place to increase radiotherapy capacity to meet the demand generated by additional screening programmes set up in NHS Nightingale Hospitals; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 21st July 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic radiotherapy service provision has continued. In light of the need to minimise trips to hospital, particularly for people likely to be worse affected by COVID-19, radiotherapy services have made use of fewer fraction protocols as supporting evidence emerges. Recovery is now underway across the National Health Service – the focus for radiotherapy will be on embedding the use of hypofractionated (fewer fraction) treatments.

As part of the wider NHS recovery programme, local systems will need to determine how best to restore services and then reduce waiting lists. This might, in some areas, include the use of the independent sector.

Reticulating Splines