Call for written evidence for APPG for Radiotherapy’s inquiry into radiotherapy and the cancer crisis.
The All- Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy have issued a call for written evidence to the APPG for Radiotherapy’s inquiry into radiotherapy and the cancer crisis. This is an inquiry into UK radiotherapy provision and its ability to cope with urgent present and future challenges in cancer care. This inquiry session will be taking place on Wednesday 18 January, 10:00-11:00 if you would like to attend please email appg-rt@radiotherapy.org.uk.
It is widely accepted that the UK is facing a cancer crisis of record waiting times and a catastrophic cancer backlog. The cancer community have called for cancer treatment capacity to mitigate the impact. Parliamentarians have launched this inquiry following warnings from clinicians that vital radiotherapy services are now “critically threatened”. Radiotherapy has been internationally recognised as offering among the best solutions to build treatment capacity through cutting edge technology and innovations to help the workforce do more. Radiotherapy is also one of the most cost-effective cancer treatments, curing patients for as little as £4,000-£7,000.
This inquiry intends to explore why UK cancer patients have not been able to benefit from these solutions and get a frontline perspective on the extent of the problems and reforms that are needed to deliver world-class cancer care.
While the UK awaits the upcoming 10-Year Cancer Plan, the APPG for Radiotherapy is holding an inquiry into radiotherapy solutions and the cancer crisis, which will include a one-off oral evidence session.
The APPG is delighted to invite you to submit written evidence by 9am Monday 16th January. Please submit evidence and any questions to: appg-rt@radiotherapy.org.uk.
There is no need to comment on all areas of the inquiry. The terms of reference for the written inquiry into the cancer crisis and radiotherapy solutions focus on current and future provision and policies, technology and equipment, workforce, and bureaucracy, and are as follows:
- Please give any views, from personal or professional experience, on whether the UK radiotherapy provision is able to cope with urgent present and future challenges in cancer care.
- To what degree are Government and NHS England’s existing plans for radiotherapy sufficiently ambitious?
- Do you feel radiotherapy is given priority that its clinical importance deserves in Government policy making?
- Are the existing processes, budget mechanisms and policies sufficient for delivering the innovations in IT and technology needed for world-class radiotherapy?
- In what ways can the full technological benefits of radiotherapy be realised, and what is hindering this?
- Please detail the current status of the Radiotherapy machines and equipment from your own experience and any improvements you feel are necessary?
- Please give some comments on Radiotherapy workforce experiences either from yourself or colleagues?
- Please outline the present and future needs to the multi-disciplinary workforce in radiotherapy.
- Do you feel that Radiotherapy is funded sufficiently in the UK?
- Can you give examples that could be described as ‘red-tape’ or bureaucracy that hold radiotherapy back from the full benefits that it can provide?
Submitting Evidence
- If you would like to share your views on the above topics, please send your written evidence to appg-rt@radiotherapy.org.uk. There is no need to cover all the areas outlined in the terms of reference, but please do share any views you have on these issues and any experiences or examples of best practice you think will be valuable for the APPG to know about. We would recommend keeping your response to a maximum of 1,500 words.
- The APPG will be accepting written submission from 20 December 2022 via appg-rt@radiotherapy.org.uk until 9am on Monday 16th January.
