PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Inquiry into the adequacy of radiotherapy (13 February 2020)

That this House recognises precision Radiotherapy as a cost effective, life-saving cancer treatment; notes that 1 in 4 people will require access to radiotherapy and that the treatment is crucial in 4 out of every 10 cancer cures; welcomes the Government's commitment to improve early cancer detection but believes the current state of radiotherapy provision is not in a position to cope with increased demand; further notes the shortfalls in radiotherapy delivery highlighted by the APPG for Radiotherapy including an estimated 24,000 patients missing out completely on radiotherapy, excessive treatment travel times, outdated equipment, staff shortages, incoherent commissioning restricting access to treatment and perverse internal tariff system which creates financial disincentives in commissioning the most modern and effective radiotherapy treatment; believes addressing these shortfalls are the route to improving the UK's cancer survival rates which lag behind international comparators; and calls on the Heath and Social Care Select Committee to hold a full inquiry into the current state of radiotherapy services as a matter of priority, add to the weight of evidence, and produce recommendations for the Government in support of increasing access and investment to this life-saving cancer treatment and press for the UK to be a world class centre of excellence for precision advanced radiotherapy.

Sponsored by:
Geraint Davies (Independent)