MP raises NHS scandal in Parliament
Written by John Williamson on 23/10/2018
South Lakes MP Tim Farron used Health Questions in Parliament today to raise a scandal in the NHS which is leading to many cancer sufferers across the country not being able to receive the highest quality lifesaving treatment.
Almost every radiotherapy centre in the country has linear accelerators that are able to provide highly advanced stereotactic radiation therapy that is more precise and more effective at treating cancer.
However, NHS England contracts mean that out of the 52 radiotherapy centres in England, no more than 20 are actually able to use this technology.
During Health Questions, Tim demanded that the Government end this postcode lottery when it comes to cancer provision.
Tim said: “This is nothing short of a national scandal.
“Almost every radiotherapy centre has the equipment available to give the patients the best chance of survival but the perverse way that radiotherapy is funded means that cancer patients up and down the country are being short-changed.
“This means that most radiotherapy centres are either not using the equipment they have to best help cancer patients or else they are using it, but the Government isn’t paying them for it and all the research data gathered in the process will be lost.
“The Government must stop this reckless and frankly lethal nonsense and agree to fund every Trust so that everyone, regardless of where they live, is able to access the best lifesaving treatment.”
