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<p>NHS England’s review is concerned with assessing and meeting the need for the treatment
of intracranial conditions with SRS/SRT; fractionated extracranial radiotherapy and
Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) are not included in the review.</p><p> </p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p> </p><p>The two activity scenarios in the consultation document assume
a significant growth in treatment rates. Scenario A is based on the level of need
identified in the NHS England Clinical Commissioning Policies, whilst scenario B is
based on an expected growth demand based on the treatment rates of some other European
countries. The relative merits of these two scenarios are laid out from page eight
of the consultation document</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/options-for-change/supporting_documents/srssrtconsultguide021114.pdf</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NHS England’s reasons for recommending scenario A with a seven-day
working week, ‘Option 2’, is set out in their report as follows:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>“SCOG [the Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group] decided on Option 2 as
the preferred option as it is based on seven-day working, which aligns to the national
strategic direction of moving towards seven-day service provision. Additionally, the
risk of overcapacity is minimised if clinical trends change more slowly than expected
because the centres providing the service could revert to fewer days per week. The
avoidance of machines lying idle 2/7ths of the week will ensure best price for the
NHS. Option 2 could be superseded by further expansion of national capacity should
the activity levels increase beyond those described in Scenario A.”</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>“It was recognised that in planning for Option 2, future increases
in capacity would still be possible should activity levels rise beyond those described
in Scenario A, in order to mitigate any risk of future under-capacity”</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>The national recommendation that a minimum number patients be treated
each year relates specifically to Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) which
is out of the scope of this consultation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NHS England's
Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Services Needs Assessment and Service Review
is currently subject to an ongoing public consultation, which closes on 26 January
2015. NHS England would welcome any detailed comments being fed directly into the
consultation process, including on data sources. Comments can be made at this link:</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/options-for-change</p>
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