§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which regions have reported their inability to accept new patients for radiotherapy treatment because the length of the waiting list is longer than their life expectancy;
358W(2) in which districts cuts in resources have affected the treatment of cancer patients either because of the shortage of radiographers in post or the inability to replace obsolete equipment.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are aware of no region or district in which shortage of staff or other resources present insurmountable problems of this kind in meeting needs for radiotherapy services. I strongly disapprove of recent irresponsible statements given to the press which have claimed, inaccurately, that emergency treatment of cancer patients has been adverserly affected by lack of resources.