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 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.
