HC Deb 30 March 1999 vol 328 cc648-9W
29. Mr. Gordon Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made to reduce the above average waiting times for radiotherapy treatment in the north-west region caused by a lack of linear accelerators. [77727]

Mr. Denham

Since the Royal College of Radiologists collected the data which it published in July 1998, a new radiotherapy unit with two linear accelerators has opened in Preston. In that time, the number of machines serving people in the north west and north Wales has increased from 12 to 16. Work is currently under way to house a third machine at Preston, which will come into service next year.

A report commissioned by the National Health Service Executive North-West, which will make recommendations about the level of provision of radiotherapy treatment machines in the region, is due shortly.