Hospitals invited to bid for Proton Beam Therapy provision

Hospitals have been invited to bid to become providers of a new form of radiotherapy, it has been announced.

Proton Beam Therapy has the ability to cure tumours without causing damage to vital organs, health minster Ann Keen explained.

Ms Keen, who is the Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, said that the therapy has the potential to be more effective in the treatment of specific types of cancer that occur in the base of the skull, near the spine and in the retina.

She explained: “I have asked the National Specialised Commissioning Team to identify possible providers as I want this important technology to be available to NHS patients in England as soon as possible.”

Dr Adrian Crellin, chairman of the National Commissioning Group for Proton Therapy, stated that he is “delighted” that work has begun to start offering Proton Beam Therapy services in the UK, noting that it is “much safer” than other forms of treatment.