Health and Social care Committee

Access to medical technologies in Wales

MT ToR 30 Andrea Hague - Director of Velindre Cancer Centre

                                                                                                Velindre NHS Trust

                                                                                                Velindre Cancer Centre

                                                                                                Whitchurch

                                                                                                Cardiff

                                                                                                CF14 2TL

                                                                                                5 October 2012

Mark Drayford AM

Chair

Health and Social Care committee

National Assembly for Wales

Dear Mr Drayford,

Inquiry :Access to Medical Technologies in Wales

I am writing on behalf of Velindre Cancer Centre in response to your letter of 23 August 2012 in which you request comments on the scope of the above inquiry.

Velindre NHS Trust would like the scope of the inquiry to include Radiotherapy developments – a key treatment for cancer patients.  Over 40 % patients with cancer will receive Radiotherapy as some part of their treatment.

In your letter you also ask for comments about possible barriers to treatments being more accessible to patients in Wales and comments on the current appraisal processes. From a Radiotherapy point of view there is an established system/process in England through National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG) and the National Radiotherapy Implementation Group (NRIG) who undertake assessments on developments in Radiotherapy technologies and recommend their role out as appropriate. In Wales there are a number of bodies (including Clinical Oncology Sub Group (COSG), the Cancer Networks, the Cancer Implementation Group and the All Wales Medicines Advisory Group (AWMSG)) but none of these committees have the authority to make recommendations to the funders of healthcare about the implementation of Radiotherapy technologies.

Thus Velindre NHS Trust welcomes this inquiry into access to medical technologies in Wales, and if at any stage you’d like further information on any aspects of the points above please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Andrea Hague

Director of Velindre Cancer Centre

Velindre NHS Trust