§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what record she has of people suffering from radiation damage after radiotherapy; and what plans she has to set up a national register.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department does not keep records of people suffering from radiation damage after radiotherapy and we have no plans to set up a national register.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will extend the audit of patients damaged by radiotherapy in the breast area to patients damaged in the pelvic area.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department commissioned an audit of breast cases because they were all suffering from the same cancer and had similar radiotherapy. Patients who had pelvic radiotherapy had different cancers and underwent different techniques of radiotherapy. It is easier392W to detect common features between members of the first group than between members of the second. For that reason, we have commenced an audit of women exhibiting adverse effects following breast radiotherapy.