§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that in London and the home counties 24 radiotherapy units serve a population of roughly 12 million, if he will take action to remedy this over-provision as against other regions which are seriously underfunded after some years of attempted redistribution of resources; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThe provision of radiotherapy units to meet the needs of the people in their areas is the responsibility of the relevant health authorities. General guidance on the subject has been issued by the Department. A recent report by a study group of the London health planning consortium on radiotherapy and oncology services in the four Thames regions has proposed that they should be provided by a smaller number of larger centres. The report will be considered by the consortium following current consultation. Redistribution of overall resources between regional health authorities is carried out by reference to relative need assessed in accordance with the recommendations of the resource allocation working party.