SoR defends radiotherapy services
The SoR has defended radiotherapy services by responding to articles
featured in two high profile publications.
A New Statesman article written by Lois Rogers, begins with the
sentence: ‘If you think you might be going to get cancer, the best
advice is to leave Britain as soon as possible’. She suggests that
the results of the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group’s (NRAG)
survey into existing services have ‘caused so much dismay in
Whitehall that the government has simply decided not to let people
know what it says’.
Richard Evans, CEO of the SoR, was awarded ‘letter of the week’ for
his response: ‘The situation regarding radiotherapy based cancer
treatment in the UK that Lois Rogers outlines is bleak but there is
actually a lot of good practice and performance out there’ he states.
‘The biggest issue is the ongoing shortages of therapeutic
radiographers, who deliver the treatment. There is an immense feeling
of frustration because radiographers and other health and medical
professionals have been pointing out the obvious for years: there
aren't enough staff to deliver the treatments that patients need’.
A second letter from the SoR appeared on The British Medical Journal
website, in response to an editorial from Sir Liam Donaldson, the
chief medical officer, about effective strategies for reducing harm
caused to patients by radiotherapy. Sir Liam states: ‘An
organisational culture that promotes safety has distinct and
consistent characteristics. These include effective organisational
leadership, well designed systems and processes of care,and competent
health staff. Such characteristics are vital for ensuring the safety
of patients’.
Richard Evans responds by stating: ‘If the government committed to
appropriate investment, radiographers and other members of the front-
line multidisciplinary radiotherapy team could deliver all of Sir
Liam's wishes. The reality is that we have outdated equipment, lack
of sufficient workforce to implement new technologies, under-
investment in post graduate training opportunities, and an
inequitable service that varies from county-to-county across the UK.
Radiographers are delivering the best service they possibly can under
enormous pressure’.
Read The New Statesman article and Richard Evans' full response
Read 'Reducing harm from radiotherapy' BMJ 2007; 334:272
Read Richard Evans' full response PDF
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