The Guardian has uncovered the extent of poor radiotherapy access in England, based on the campaign work of Radiotherapy UK.
More than 60,000 cancer patients a year are not getting the radiotherapy they need at all, while some patients in England face waits of up to six months to begin the treatment.
The situation is so dire that nearly 100 heads of radiotherapy and oncology – three-quarters of England’s radiotherapy leaders – have warned in an open letter that the government is failing patients.
International experts agree that more than half (53%) of all cancer patients will typically need radiotherapy, but in England, only 35% actually receive it.
According to exclusive analysis of the latest NHS data, that means 181,023 patients should have received radiotherapy but only 120,569 did, leaving 60,455 cancer patients a year in England who are not getting any radiotherapy cancer treatment at all.
Please read and share, far and wide: More than 60,000 cancer patients in England ‘not getting necessary radiotherapy’ | Cancer | The Guardian
With huge thanks to Anna Bawden, Health and Social Affairs Correspondent.
Workforce letter to Wes Streeting
Dear Secretary of State,
We write to you as members of the UK’s radiotherapy community to urge you to place radiotherapy at the heart of your upcoming cancer plan, and at the forefront of the shift from analogue to digital in the NHS.
Radiotherapy is one of the most powerful tools in our fight against cancer. It is needed by over half of all cancer patients, in 40% of cures, and is also vital in palliative care. It is high-tech, clinically effective, highly targeted, and represents extraordinary value for money.
Solutions exist to UK cancer crisis
Radiotherapy UK and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign have been working on cost-effective solution to the UK cancer crisis – including bringing back the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG).
We will be submitting feedback to the 10-year workforce plan, and welcoming MPs and decision makers to our next Parliamentary event in October.
To support us, please consider signing the #CatchUpWithCancer petition.
Professor Pat Price - cancer crisis is real
Professor Pat Price, Chair of Radiotherapy UK and co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, explains how serious the cancer crisis is, with patients not being treated on time since 2015.