Written question WQ99172
- Asked by
- Paul DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effectiveness of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in treating prostate cancer?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care (Mabon ap Gwynfor)
Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) is a highly precise form of radiotherapy that delivers high doses of radiation directly to a tumour while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Using advanced imaging and treatment techniques, SABR is typically delivered in a small number of fractions, providing an effective and targeted treatment option for selected patients.
The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) is responsible for commissioning SABR for a range of cancer types and has worked with the three regional cancer centres in Wales to support equitable access to this technique, where clinically appropriate.
SABR is not routinely commissioned for localised prostate cancer in Wales at present. Instead, the NHS in Wales offers extreme hypofractionated radiotherapy (EHFRT), typically delivered in five or seven fractions, in line with Health Technology Wales advice supporting its effectiveness and cost‑efficiency.
Emerging evidence, including findings from the PACE trial and recent commissioning developments in other parts of the UK, suggests that five‑fraction SABR may offer comparable clinical outcomes for selected patients with prostate cancer. The NHS in Wales will continue to keep this evidence under review to inform future commissioning decisions.