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1998/1999 Annual Review
- Radiotherapy
Waiting
Time
A
continuously increasing workload dominated the year for the Radiotherapy Directorate. Referrals
for Radiotherapy increased by 6% compared to 1997/98 and the radiotherapy fraction treatment required
by nearly 10%. This resulted in the waiting time for Radiotherapy failing to fall as anticipated
during the first six months of the year. We were successful in a Waiting List Initiative bid,
which enabled us to move routine maintenance and quality control of treatment machines to weekends,
so avoiding interruption of the patient treatment day. This led to a significant increase in the
number of patients treated each day, reaching an all time high in March 1999. However, staffing
problems relating to a national shortage of Therapy Radiographers meant that this throughput could
not be maintained, and the waiting times began to rise again by the end of the year.
Equipment
The
Report by the Royal College of Radiologists identified a serious deficiency of Radiotherapy Treatment
Machines in the UK, with the North West Region being the most poorly provided for Region. CCO
is therefore seeking to implement a phased programme of replacement of equipment, which has reached
the end of its working life, and extension of the available facilities, so that the quality of
service can be maintained and extended. Work on the installation of a replacement Linear
Accelerator (with modern facilities allowing the more accurate targeting of radiotherapy) and
Simulator, began towards the end of the year and the equipment will be commissioned in the late
Summer/Autumn of 1999. (Photo: New Linear Accelerator)
Treatment planning computers and the High
Dose Rate Brachytherapy machine have been replaced during the year with state of the art equipment.
Staffing
The Royal College of Radiologists report
identified significant shortages of Physicists and Therapy Radiographers in Radiotherapy Departments
in the UK. External Professional reviews of the staffing at CCO show that CCO’s establishment
needs to be significantly increased if standards are to be maintained. We shall be exploring ways
of obtaining the necessary funding. In the meantime it is to the credit of CCO’s staff that the
present standards are achieved, and that work to introduce new methods of treating cancer continue.
In order to use the available Therapy Radiographers optimally, the number of Radiotherapy Centre
Assistants has been increased and appropriate training courses are being developed which will
allow this group of staff to increase their skill and knowledge base.
Colorectal Bid
A successful bid was made against the
additional £10 million per annum allocated to develop colo-rectal services nationally. The bid
has resulted in the appointment of additional staff and equipment which will enhance the services
and treatment we deliver to this group of patients.
Future
The immediate future will be difficult
because of the problems of increasing workload and national staff shortages, which will be exacerbated
by the opening of the North Wales Cancer Centre in June 2000. The latter does however provide
an opportunity to reallocate additional resources to treat cancer patients in Merseyside. This
will alleviate but not resolve the problems noted above.
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