HC Deb 15 July 1998 vol 316 cc221-2W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the timescale by which health districts in the North West of England will have(a) recruited sufficient specialist staff and (b) procured the necessary equipment to meet the four week guidelines for radiotherapy treatment for urgent breast cancer referrals; what measures he is taking to recruit staff and procure equipment; and at what estimated cost. [50243]

Ms Jowell

In order fully to assess the current level of radiotherapy service provision in the North West and to ensure that deficiencies in access to radiotherapy services for all patients in the North West can be identified and addressed, the National Health Service Executive North West Region is undertaking, as a matter of urgency, a detailed analysis of the level of service currently being provided and a projection of the level of service required, which will include staffing levels, equipment requirement and costs. This work is expected to be completed in the autumn.

Mr.Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health districts in the North West of England where breast cancer urgent referrals cannot routinely be provided with radiotherapy treatment within the four week guideline. [50242]

Ms Jowell

The information requested is not collected centrally. However, reports produced by the Royal College of Radiologists on 8 July 1998 and taken from an audit of hospital waiting times conducted during a week in February 1998 indicated that, in the North West Region, of those women requiring post operative radiotherapy, 48 per cent. started treatment in 4 weeks and 85 per cent. in 6 weeks. To ensure that deficiencies in access to radiotherapy services for all patients in the North West can be identified and addressed, the National Health Service Executive North West Region is undertaking, as a matter of urgency, a detailed analysis of the level of service currently being provided and a projection of the level of service required. This work is expected to be completed by the autumn.