§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital were referred for radiotherapy treatment in each year from 1989 to date; and if he will make a statement. [85695]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Department does not collect information about numbers of patients referred for radiotherapy. The following information indicates first out-patient referrals for clinical oncology at Royal416W Shrewsbury Hospital (only available since 1994–95), a proportion of whom will have been referred for radiotherapy treatment.
Consultant first outpatient attendance
Year Seen Did not appear 1994–95 350 3 1995–96 492 5 1996–97 1,115 27 1997–98 632 21
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will be informed of the outcome of its bid for a linear accelerator; and if he will make a statement; [85698]
(2) pursuant to the letter of 12 April from the Under-Secretary of State for Health, if his officials have considered the financial terms of funding a second linear accelerator at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital; and if he will make a statement; [85696]
(3) what reasons underlie the length of time taken by the NHS Executive, West Midlands Regional Office to consider the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's business case for funding to replace its cobalt unit with a new linear accelerator; and if he will make a statement. [85716]
§ Mr. DenhamThe National Health Service Executive–West Midlands Regional Office is carefully considering the business case and hopes to make a decision as soon as possible. The prime consideration will be establishing a safe and sustainable service. There are several factors underpinning this, and the Regional Office needs to satisfy itself that all the issues have been addressed before approving the business case. In particular, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, which is not itself a cancer centre, will need to demonstrate that robust working links have been developed with the North Staffordshire cancer centre. In addition, work currently taking place on developing a national framework for radiotherapy services, as well as wider regional cancer strategy will inform the decision. The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will be informed as soon as a decision has been reached.
West Midlands Regional Office is currently exploring possible sources of funding to minimise delay should the business case be approved.