§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide information showing the current ratio of radiotherapy units to patients in each part of Wales; if he will make a statement on the present level of care offered to cancer patients in Wales in general.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsRadiotherapy is provided for Welsh patients at two centres in South Wales where the ratio of units to potential patients is approximately 1:1,000,000. As patients from North Wales are treated at a number of units in England it is not possible to provide this information in respect of North Wales. The level of service identified for South Wales above is in accordance with accepted norms.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating the average length of time cancer patients have to wait before receiving radiotherapy treatment in Wales; and if he is satisfied with the present situation in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsDuring 1985, the latest period for which statistical information is available, the average length of time cancer patients waited before receiving radiotherapy treatment in Wales was 15.1 days for first treatment at Velindre hospital and 5.4 days for first treatment at Singleton hospital.
Information on patients from Wales who receive treatment at units in England is not held centrally.
The Welsh medical committee advisory group on cancer services has recently presented its report on cancer services in Wales and this is presently being studied.