Radiotherapy services reporting long delays for patients needing treatment, says new report

MariaPCC 8 May 2024

Radiotherapy services are increasingly reporting long delays for patients needing treatment, according to a new report.

The Radiotherapy Board has developed a policy briefing, exploring the main drivers of lengthening waiting times and the action needed to support services.

IPEM is a member of the Radiotherapy Board, along with the Royal College of Radiologists and the Society and College of Radiographers.

‘Recovering radiotherapy services in England’ sets out a plan for action to address the long delays patients face for treatment.

The briefing explores the main drivers of lengthening waiting times and what action needs to be taken at a national and local level to support services. It sets out 11 recommendations for how government and NHS England can restore radiotherapy services and ensure patients receive treatment in a safe and timely manner.

At the same time, the Board has published the ESTRO-HERO report, which estimates the cost of radiotherapy to the NHS for the first time.

The model estimates the total cost of the 127,275 radiotherapy courses delivered in 2017 was £467 million and points out that radiotherapy accounts for approximately seven per cent of the total cancer spend.

Dr Anna Barnes, IPEM’s President, said: ‘These two reports once again highlight the delays patients face for cancer treatment. I hope the recommendations in the report are acted upon to restore radiotherapy services and ensure patients receive the treatment they need.’

Read the Radiotherapy Board reports here.

For more information on IPEM, please visit www.ipem.ac.uk.

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