§ Mr. David TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities fund the use of stereotactic radiosurgery; and what constraints are imposed by him in respect of the funding of clinical procedures capable of being classified as in the realms of research. [67709]
§ Mr. HuttonStereotactic radiosurgery is available in eight of some fifty radiotherapy centres in the United Kingdom. The technique is well established for certain530W well-defined conditions which would be expected to occur in patients spread fairly evenly across all health authorities. Health authorities make resource allocation decisions according to local priorities.
We encourage National Health Service bodies to undertake experimental treatments only within an evaluative framework. Any decisions to fund experimental treatments as research will be influenced by their importance to the health service and assessments on the value of the research.