To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's press release of 18 August 2009 on proton therapy services, what progress his Department is making in identifying possible providers of proton therapy treatment for NHS patients in England; what estimate he has made of the maximum annual number of patients who could be treated at a proton therapy treatment centre; and if he will make a statement. (325722)

We are currently evaluating bids to identify a shortlist of potential providers of proton beam therapy (PBT) services in England. The project team will then work with those trusts to develop a full business case by the end of 2010. We estimate that 1,500 patients could benefit from PBT per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, in which countries the patients for whom proton therapy treatment was commissioned in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 were treated. (325723)

In 2008-09 patients were treated in France and Switzerland.

In 2009-10 patients were treated in France, Switzerland and the United States of America.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, which individuals sit on the proton reference panel. (325724)

The following sit on the panel. Not all members are involved in clinical decisions on the referral of patients abroad for treatment.

Dr. Adrian Crellin, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, St. James’s Institute of Oncology. Chairman-NCG National Reference Panel.

Professor Roger Taylor, Clinical Director Cancer Services, ABM University Health Board, Professor of Clinical Oncology, Swansea Clinical School.

Donna Routsis, Lead Research Radiographer, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust.

Dr. Neil Burnet, Consultant Oncologist, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust.

Dr. Nicola Thorp, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Professor Bleddyn Jones, Director, Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology University of Oxford.

Dr. Susan Short, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Oncology, University College Hospital London.

Dr. Daniel Ford, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr. Michelle Kwok-Williams, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, St. James's Institute of Oncology.

Dr. Edmund Jessop, Medical Advisor, National Commissioning Group.

Sarah Watson, Senior Commissioning Manager National Commissioning Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2010, Official Report, columns 1400-01W, on medical treatments abroad, what the average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what the total cost of such treatment was in each such year. (325725)

The average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad in 2008-09 was £28,000. This figure relates to the treatment of six patients at a total cost of £168,000.

The average cost of an individual course of proton therapy treatment commissioned from abroad in 2009-10 was £62,000. This figure relates to the treatment of 26 patients at a total cost of £1,600,000. These figures are taken from draft accounts which have yet to be finalised.

The increase in average cost in 2009-10 over 2008-09 relates to patients being treated in the United States of America for the first time in 2009-10.