24/03/09 - Health Scrutiny Commitee To Hear Cancer Treatment Findings

Cancer patients in Swindon who need vital radiotherapy treatment currently have to travel to Oxford to get it– and a review by Swindon councillors has found that they find the journey tiring, uncomfortable, time-consuming and expensive.

The results of the review, which looked at the accessibility of radiotherapy treatment for people in Swindon, will be presented to the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday (25 March).

The work was carried out by Swindon Borough Councillors Mick Bray (Conservative, Freshbrook & Grange Park) and Andrew Bennett (Conservative Ridgeway) with the support of Swindon Primary Care Trust and the Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The review concluded that more work should be carried out to see if it is possible to establish a radiotherapy centre in Swindon, to build on work already done on this by Swindon Primary Care Trust.

Most Swindon patients needing radiotherapy, which is used to treat a range of cancers, have to travel to Oxford five days a week for up to six weeks.

Councillors spoke to patients and their families, clinicians from Swindon and Oxford, and local cancer support groups. They found that Swindon patients receive a high standard of treatment, but many find travelling to Oxford difficult.

The NHS is currently considering options to increase the capacity of radiotherapy services across England and Wales in response to a report made by the National radiotherapy Advisory Group. This recommended that radiotherapy capacity in the UK needs to expand by 91% by 2016.

If it proves possible to provide a radiotherapy centre in Swindon, it is likely to be a minimum of two to three years before it could start work.

Councillor Mick Bray said: "I believe the time is now ripe to look again at whether we can provide Radiotherapy treatment in Swindon. A large number of treatments require daily journeys to Oxford for 30 continuous days, which can be a slow and tiresome journey of one to two hours.

“There’s no quick fix for this project so it’s imperative that an analysis is provided by all stakeholders without delay so that consideration can be given to improving the lifestyle of the people of Swindon.''

Councillor Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Parliamentary Candidate and a member of the committee, "Time and time again local residents have raised concerns about the issues they face with repeated visits to Oxford.  With the need to expand the radiotherapy capacity, clearly there is an opportunity for GHW to match the needs of local residents.  I am sure we would all support such a much needed move.''

South Swindon Conservative Candidate Robert Buckland said:  ''I warmly welcome the findings of the councillors' report on radiology services.  It is clear to me from attending this week's Swindon Council Health Scrutiny Committee meeting that everyone concerned wants to see this vital service come to Swindon so that the long journey to Oxford for patients and their families can be avoided.  I call upon Swindon Primary Care Trust to complete its feasibility study into the proposals as soon as possible.  Bearing in mind the fact that it will take several years to complete this project, there is absolutely no time to be lost.''