Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in securing the manufacture of the radio-isotopes required by the NHS for cancer diagnostics and treatment from sources within the UK.

Medical radioisotopes used for cancer diagnostics and treatments rely on diverse supply chains from domestic and international suppliers. The United Kingdom has a comprehensive network of cyclotrons used for diagnostics. These cyclotrons tend to be based close to where the medical radioisotopes will be used due to the very short half-life of these products. Other medical radioisotopes are manufactured in reactors, and the UK does not have a suitable reactor for this manufacture, therefore we import these from a number of international suppliers.

The reliable supply of medical radioisotopes for diagnosing and treating cancer and other conditions remains a priority for the Government and when there are shortages, the Department works with suppliers and clinical leads to support the return of supplies and to limit the impact on patients during the shortage.