The SoR has supported a new document from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) which proposes ways to improve funding that would ensure equal access to certain cancer treatments.
Published this month, the document outlines the RCR’s concerns about equitable access to innovative cancer treatments. These include Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR), Molecular Radiotherapy (MR) and New Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies (SACT).
The RCR emphasised that improving funding for these treatments would help to improve outcomes for patients, and said that the National Cancer Plan should reevaluate how the treatments are funded.
Charlotte Beardmore, executive director of professional policy for the SoR, said that the National Cancer Plan presents an opportunity to provide optimal cancer care for patients.
“Our shared goal is to ensure every patient has timely access to the best cancer care,” she said. “The Cancer Plan is a vital opportunity to ensure radiotherapy is properly supported, professionals are empowered, and patients can benefit wherever they live.”
What does the document outline?
Along with explaining what SABR, MR and SACT are, the document states that treatments should be funded by a tariff that takes “workforce, capital and a flexible innovation incentive payment” into account.
“Improving commissioning arrangements for these treatments will provide direct patient benefits, including faster and more equitable access, improved health outcomes, and care closer to home,” the document reads. “The National Cancer Plan should include clear actions to reconsider the funding for innovative cancer treatments.”
It also suggests how funding arrangements should change to provide more optimised care. These suggestions include:
- Offering an innovation incentive payment, which would help the implementation process of any new treatments that need new training or expertise until they are established
- Designating certain specialist centres to adopt certain treatments
- Encouraging trusts to partake in clinical trials
“All new anti-cancer treatments or techniques should be funded in this way and should be subject to the same clinical scrutiny,” the document reads. “Broader actions to expand radiotherapy capacity would complement and enable these actions to foster a creative environment for innovation.”
To read the RCR’s new innovation and commissioning document, click here.
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