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<p>NHS England is currently engaged in a public consultation to establish 11 radiotherapy
networks across England. The aim of their proposals is to encourage radiotherapy providers
to work together in networks and across organisational boundaries to concentrate expertise
and improve pathways for patients requiring radical radiotherapy for the less common
and rarer cancers. This will help to increase access to more innovative radiotherapy
treatments, increase clinical trial recruitment and optimise utilisation of radiotherapy
equipment, securing greater value for money. Once established, radiotherapy networks
will be required to review service provision on a regular basis, explore the differential
access rates across the geography and take account of specific issues relating to
rural communities. They will also be required to consider how to address any shortcomings,
including; outreach out-patient oncology clinics, preferential access to clinic appointments
and treatments to allow for limited public transport, reviewing opportunities for
better hospital transport and the use of telephone consultations when appropriate.</p><p>
</p><p>The consultation period has been extended until 24 January 2018 and views can
be fed into the online survey:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/radiotherapy-service-specification-consultation/"
target="_blank">https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/radiotherapy-service-specification-consultation/</a></p>
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