The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has warmly welcomed the launch of a new cross-party manifesto to improve radiotherapy provision in the UK.
The manifesto was launched in Westminster yesterday (18 July) by Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, and chair of the newly formed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Radiotherapy.
The document outlines the effectiveness of radiotherapy, the disparity between funding for radiotherapy compared to cancer drugs and the need for modern radiotherapy machines across the UK.
Dr Jeanette Dickson, Vice-President for Clinical Oncology at The Royal College of Radiologists, said:
“A greater political awareness of the curative benefits of radiotherapy is desperately needed.
“We very much welcome the APPG’s clear explanation of the issue and its calls for what would be a modest, but hugely effective, 1.5 per cent increase in NHS spending.
“Widespread use of the innovative, precise treatment that is possible with modern radiotherapy equipment would make a massive impact on cancer survival rates in the UK, many of which continue to lag behind the rest of Europe, as well as meaning fewer side effects for patients.
“But we will only be able to give patients the state-of-the-art treatment they deserve if we get better equipment. As the APPG has spelled out, that means we need more money from Government and we need it now.”
“And it can’t just stop at one off cash injections for equipment. Real investment means a rolling equipment replacement programme, enhanced IT connectivity to support networked working across hospitals and a sustainable workforce across all of the professions involved in the delivery of radiotherapy."
Read the APPG for Radiotherapy’s manifesto