Plans to expand radiotherapy services in region

Managers are examining proposals to deliver radiation treatments in two new centres in York and Doncaster to meet growing demand as numbers of patients with cancer continue to rise.

Existing sites providing state-of-the-art treatment in Leeds, Sheffield and Hull are already close to full capacity. Ten machines are operated by the NHS in Leeds, seven are in operation in Sheffield and six in Hull.

National estimates suggest demand for the treatment is expected to grow by 2.3 per cent each year, prompting warnings of significant new capacity being required to ensure targets that patients receive the radiotherapy within 31 days of a decision to treat them continue to be met.

More centres have already been opened in other parts of England, with 58 now in place running 265 machines, although projections by the Department of Health suggest 412 will be needed by 2016.

The Yorkshire Cancer Network, which serves West Yorkshire and surrounding parts of North Yorkshire, is backing an additional centre in York which would require a three-way partnership between hospitals in York, Leeds and Hull. Officials calculate a third site might also be needed in the west of the area.

The North Trent Cancer Network, which covers South Yorkshire and parts of the north Midlands, has estimated another two machines will be needed by 2017 and is proposing a new site in Doncaster.

Discussions are also being held with hospital chiefs in Hull amid estimates from the Humber and Yorkshire Coast Cancer Network that another machine will be needed for local people by the end of the decade.

A spokesman for the NHS South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Area Team said: “The need to increase the provision of radiotherapy across South Yorkshire over the next five to 10 years has been identified as a clear priority.

“This includes securing extra sites and extra machines to meet the growing patient demand.”

Specific business cases were being developed to expand services and improve access.

Latest Department of Health figures show there were 1.7 million attendances for radiotherapy in 2010-11, up 13 per cent in six years.