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Cancer: Surgery

Volume 481: debated on Tuesday 28 October 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's policy is on the use of Cyberknife robotic radio surgery for cancer patients. (230854)

Cyberknife technology has yet to be evaluated in a United Kingdom clinical setting and so is not currently available as a standard treatment on the national health service.

It is for local primary care trusts (PCTs) to use the funds allocated to them to meet the health care needs of their local populations. A consultant or clinician may recommend the use of Cyberknife for the treatment of cancer but it would be for the PCT to agree to supply the treatment at NHS expense.