Radiotherapy at St Richard's

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Radiotherapy is a core part of modern cancer treatment and is second only to surgery in its effectiveness in treating cancer. About 40% of cancer patients who are cured receive radiotherapy cancer treatment. Between 2012-2014 there are on average 3,501 newly diagnosed malignant tumours in people living in the area covered by the Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group, out of a population of 482,100. However there are no radiotherapy facilities within the county of West Sussex.

Gillian Keegan MP for Chichester has been calling for St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester to be equipped with a radiotherapy unit as many of her constituents are travelling significant distances to receive treatment, typically either Brighton or Portsmouth.

News

Gillian visits Linac factory

Gillian Keegan MP was shown around the Elekta factory, a leading innovator of equipment and software used to improve, prolong and save the lives of people with cancer and brain disorders.

Radiotherapy APPG launches manifesto

A cross-party manifesto, proposing significant improvements to radiotherapy provision throughout the UK, has been launched by Tim Farron MP, (chair) and Gillian Keegan MP (Vice-Chair) of the newly formed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Radiotherapy.

APPG on Radiotherapy meeting

The APPG for Radiotherapy had their first official meeting to discuss the key issues with these services within the NHS. The group discussed their manifesto to establish the aims of the group moving forward. The Manifesto is due to be published later in the summer.