Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, an advisor to MedTech suppliers, chair of the Urology Trade Association, and governor of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, highlights investment in new radiotherapy machines intended to slash cancer waiting times.
Thousands of patients in England will benefit from faster and safer cancer treatment thanks to new cutting-edge radiotherapy machines being rolled out to every region, says Health Secretary, Wes Streeting.
The government has paid 70 million GBP for new linear accelerator (LINAC) machines at 28 hospitals, which use modern technology to reduce delays to treatment and to reduce by half the number of hospital visits some cancer patients need to make, cutting waiting lists to improve cancer care through the Government’s Plan for Change.
Replacing these older machines will save as many as 13,000 appointments from being lost to equipment breakdown.
The tech is being prioritised in hospitals which are currently using outdated treatment machines older than 10 years. The new machines are safer for patients and can more precisely target tumours, causing less damage to surrounding healthy tissues. They are particularly effective at targeting cancers in harder to treat areas, such as the chest, abdomen and pelvis.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: ‘There is a revolution taking place in medical technology which can transform treatment for cancer patients. But NHS hospitals are forced to use outdated, malfunctioning equipment.’
The new tech will also increase the availability of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) cancer treatments, which can more precisely target tumours.
The investment follows on from the government rolling out 13 new DEXA scanners across the country, which will allow 29,000 extra bone scans per year to be delivered for patients as part of the Plan for Change.
The Author used AI in preparing this article, comments upon or questions about which can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.
