Wales back of the pack on radiotherapy treatment

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Sep 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Jenny Randerson has discovered that Wales is lagging behind Europe on access to Radiotherapy treatment for cancer sufferers.

Mrs Randerson said: "I discovered from a recent report that waiting times for Radiotherapy treatments in Wales are longer than the rest of the UK and Europe, because we simply do not have enough Radiotherapy equipment or qualified staff.

"Linear accelerators provide the vital doses of radiation for Welsh cancer patients and the World Health Organisation recommends developed countries should have at least five of these machines per million people. Wales had 3.10 per million people at the last count in 2000. France had nearly double that, with 6.12.

"The lack of proper equipment and the current staffing levels mean that most patients in Wales are not receiving their radiotherapy according to Welsh National Cancer Standards.

"Spending money on Radiotherapy treatments means quicker treatment, more beds available for other patients and would be a better way of adding value to the NHS.

"Waiting times in Wales or difficult journeys to England are unacceptable. The earlier patients get the treatment they need the better."