To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the new additional funding for new radiotherapy machines aligns with the (a) NHS Long-Term Plan and (b) the upcoming 10-year cancer strategy.
Answered on
7 January 2025
The £70 million investment in new radiotherapy machines will ensure that the most advanced treatment is available to patients. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish the new national cancer plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including improving waiting times for patients.
The funding will be spent in 2025/26, with the exact timetable and allocation of machines still to be determined. The funding will be used to replace outdated machines, and allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England is currently developing. These criteria will be shared with providers in due course.