HC Deb 19 January 1989 vol 145 c302W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what grounds he made his decision to spend ?6 million on a cyclotron to be sited at St. Thomas's hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

On 7 June 1988 Ministers approved a grant of £6 million to the Cyclotron trust as a contribution towards the charitable funds it is raising to install a Cyclotron at St. Thomas's hospital. The decision was made on the understanding that the Neutron therapy the cyclotron can provide, can give relief from the effects of certain cancers. Ministers decided to support the voluntary fund raisers in order to make such treatment more widely available to NHS patients.