Cancer

– Scottish Parliament written question – answered at on 5 September 2000.

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Photo of Keith Harding Keith Harding Conservative

Question S1W-8964

To ask the Scottish Executive when a conclusion will be reached on whether there is an increased national requirement for radiotherapy equipment and staffing, given the current incidence of cancers and level of access to radiotherapy treatment.

Photo of Susan Deacon Susan Deacon Labour

Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Executive, in conjunction with the Scottish Cancer Group, has worked in close collaboration with the NHS to develop a coherent programme of linear accelerator refurbishment and replacement. We have already committed £13.2 million from the NHS Capital Modernisation Fund to provide state of the art linear accelerators and treatment planning computers for the delivery of radiotherapy in Scotland’s five Cancer Centres. Details of how this is being invested to improve cancer services are set out in my earlier answer to question S1W-8501.

The next and subsequent phases of the ongoing rolling programme are currently being addressed by the Executive’s Strategic Review Group which has a remit to determine equipment needs across the NHS in Scotland.

So far as staffing is concerned the annual joint exercise between the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, has agreed that an additional seven clinical oncology (radiotherapy) Specialist Registrar posts should be created. Full details are set out in my response to question S1W-8965.

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