HC Deb 01 March 1984 vol 55 c336W
Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients have been sent home following the malfunctions of cancer treatment machines at Clatterbridge hospital.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I am advised that there was a machine breakdown on 20 December 1983 and a total of 49 patient treatments were cancelled on that and the following day. These were both inpatient and outpatient treatments and we do not know the number of inpatients sent home. These day-to-day operational questions are best taken up with the district health authority who are directly responsible for them.

Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how old are the cancer megavoltage machines available on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The ages of the megavoltage machines are as follows:

Age
Mullard IV 27 years old
Cobalt 16 years old
Dynaray 6 years old
Mullard VIII 4 years old

At their meeting of 28 February Mersey regional health authority agreed proposals at a total capital cost of £2.2 million to replace the 27-year-old machine and also provide an additional linear accelerator, which could be operational in 1986. To improve the situation in the immediate short-term the RHA approved measures to increase the number of patients treated by 400 a year, at a total revenue cost of £64,760. They propose to zany out planned preventative maintenance outside normal working time.

Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the malfunctions of cancer megavoltage machines at Clatterbridge hospital, Merseyside.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I am afraid that I have been advised that malfunctions have been accounting for about one twentieth of the time available for treatments. The RHA has now approved proposals for longer working hours which would enable planned preventative maintenance to be undertaken outside normal time. This decision should reduce the likelihood of malfunctions affecting patient treatment.

Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cancer megavoltage machines per million population are available on Merseyside; and how this compares with other regions.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) on 15 February 1984, at c.238.