The treatment of cancer normally involves surgery, systemic anti-cancer therapy, and radiotherapy, given individually or in combination, as appropriate to the type and stage of cancer and choices made by patients, in consultation with their doctor. Under this model of care, radiotherapy is available where it has been recommended as a treatment option and where patients have chosen to receive it.

In 2025, NHS England published a report titled Indicators for Radiotherapy Utilisation, which is publicly available. The report offers valuable insights about radiotherapy utilisation and variation and is designed to assist local systems to review broader clinical practice and put in place any improvements, where these are necessary.

Radiotherapy services operate through a collaborative but clearly delineated model, where integrated care boards commission services, providers deliver care in line with national standards, and Radiotherapy Networks and Cancer Alliances support planning and coordination.

The National Cancer Plan, published in February this year, made the commitment to meet all cancer waiting time standards by the end of this Parliament. Improving timely access to radiotherapy services across the country is a key enabler to meeting the 31-day and 62-day treatment standards.

The plan also makes specific commitments to improve the productivity of radiotherapy services, including using artificial intelligence to streamline treatment planning. Furthermore, £70 million of funding has been allocated for state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines, and to streamline approval and incentivise the use of the latest radiotherapy treatments.

Implementation of the plan’s actions, including action 20, will be monitored by the National Cancer Board, with an independent co-chair, reporting to the Department.

The treatment of cancer normally involves surgery, systemic anti-cancer therapy, and radiotherapy, given individually or in combination, as appropriate to the type and stage of cancer and choices made by patients, in consultation with their doctor. Under this model of care, radiotherapy is available where it has been recommended as a treatment option and where patients have chosen to receive it.

In 2025, NHS England published a report titled Indicators for Radiotherapy Utilisation, which is publicly available. The report offers valuable insights about radiotherapy utilisation and variation and is designed to assist local systems to review broader clinical practice and put in place any improvements, where these are necessary.

Radiotherapy services operate through a collaborative but clearly delineated model, where integrated care boards commission services, providers deliver care in line with national standards, and Radiotherapy Networks and Cancer Alliances support planning and coordination.

The National Cancer Plan, published in February this year, made the commitment to meet all cancer waiting time standards by the end of this Parliament. Improving timely access to radiotherapy services across the country is a key enabler to meeting the 31-day and 62-day treatment standards.

The plan also makes specific commitments to improve the productivity of radiotherapy services, including using artificial intelligence to streamline treatment planning. Furthermore, £70 million of funding has been allocated for state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines, and to streamline approval and incentivise the use of the latest radiotherapy treatments.

Implementation of the plan’s actions, including action 20, will be monitored by the National Cancer Board, with an independent co-chair, reporting to the Department.

The treatment of cancer normally involves surgery, systemic anti-cancer therapy, and radiotherapy, given individually or in combination, as appropriate to the type and stage of cancer and choices made by patients, in consultation with their doctor. Under this model of care, radiotherapy is available where it has been recommended as a treatment option and where patients have chosen to receive it.

In 2025, NHS England published a report titled Indicators for Radiotherapy Utilisation, which is publicly available. The report offers valuable insights about radiotherapy utilisation and variation and is designed to assist local systems to review broader clinical practice and put in place any improvements, where these are necessary.

Radiotherapy services operate through a collaborative but clearly delineated model, where integrated care boards commission services, providers deliver care in line with national standards, and Radiotherapy Networks and Cancer Alliances support planning and coordination.

The National Cancer Plan, published in February this year, made the commitment to meet all cancer waiting time standards by the end of this Parliament. Improving timely access to radiotherapy services across the country is a key enabler to meeting the 31-day and 62-day treatment standards.

The plan also makes specific commitments to improve the productivity of radiotherapy services, including using artificial intelligence to streamline treatment planning. Furthermore, £70 million of funding has been allocated for state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines, and to streamline approval and incentivise the use of the latest radiotherapy treatments.

Implementation of the plan’s actions, including action 20, will be monitored by the National Cancer Board, with an independent co-chair, reporting to the Department.

The treatment of cancer normally involves surgery, systemic anti-cancer therapy, and radiotherapy, given individually or in combination, as appropriate to the type and stage of cancer and choices made by patients, in consultation with their doctor. Under this model of care, radiotherapy is available where it has been recommended as a treatment option and where patients have chosen to receive it.

In 2025, NHS England published a report titled Indicators for Radiotherapy Utilisation, which is publicly available. The report offers valuable insights about radiotherapy utilisation and variation and is designed to assist local systems to review broader clinical practice and put in place any improvements, where these are necessary.

Radiotherapy services operate through a collaborative but clearly delineated model, where integrated care boards commission services, providers deliver care in line with national standards, and Radiotherapy Networks and Cancer Alliances support planning and coordination.

The National Cancer Plan, published in February this year, made the commitment to meet all cancer waiting time standards by the end of this Parliament. Improving timely access to radiotherapy services across the country is a key enabler to meeting the 31-day and 62-day treatment standards.

The plan also makes specific commitments to improve the productivity of radiotherapy services, including using artificial intelligence to streamline treatment planning. Furthermore, £70 million of funding has been allocated for state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines, and to streamline approval and incentivise the use of the latest radiotherapy treatments.

Implementation of the plan’s actions, including action 20, will be monitored by the National Cancer Board, with an independent co-chair, reporting to the Department.

Through the National Cancer Plan, we are modernising cancer services, expanding the workforce, and tackling inequalities in access, so that all patients receive high-quality care regardless of where they live.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that all patients have timely access to cutting-edge cancer treatments, including radiotherapy. This commitment has been demonstrated by a £70 million investment into 28 new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, radiotherapy machines, which are currently being rolled out and replacing outdated, inefficient radiotherapy equipment.

The Department expects that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, ensuring they receive the best possible care.

The responsibility for commissioning radiotherapy services was delegated to integrated care boards from 1 April 2025, and this responsibility includes planning service provision with appropriate National Health Service trusts and taking local factors into account. NHS England has included some guidance about access to radiotherapy and population needs within the national Service Specification for External Beam Radiotherapy, which is pertinent to considering satellite service provision and should assist local determination, as appropriate.

Through the National Cancer Plan, we are modernising cancer services, expanding the workforce, and tackling inequalities in access, so that all patients receive high-quality care regardless of where they live.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that all patients have timely access to cutting-edge cancer treatments, including radiotherapy. This commitment has been demonstrated by a £70 million investment into 28 new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, radiotherapy machines, which are currently being rolled out and replacing outdated, inefficient radiotherapy equipment.

The Department expects that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, ensuring they receive the best possible care.

The responsibility for commissioning radiotherapy services was delegated to integrated care boards from 1 April 2025, and this responsibility includes planning service provision with appropriate National Health Service trusts and taking local factors into account. NHS England has included some guidance about access to radiotherapy and population needs within the national Service Specification for External Beam Radiotherapy, which is pertinent to considering satellite service provision and should assist local determination, as appropriate.

Through the National Cancer Plan, we are modernising cancer services, expanding the workforce, and tackling inequalities in access, so that all patients receive high-quality care regardless of where they live.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that all patients have timely access to cutting-edge cancer treatments, including radiotherapy. This commitment has been demonstrated by a £70 million investment into 28 new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, radiotherapy machines, which are currently being rolled out and replacing outdated, inefficient radiotherapy equipment.

The Department expects that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, ensuring they receive the best possible care.

The responsibility for commissioning radiotherapy services was delegated to integrated care boards from 1 April 2025, and this responsibility includes planning service provision with appropriate National Health Service trusts and taking local factors into account. NHS England has included some guidance about access to radiotherapy and population needs within the national Service Specification for External Beam Radiotherapy, which is pertinent to considering satellite service provision and should assist local determination, as appropriate.

In December 2024, NHS England wrote to all radiotherapy treatment providers inviting them to apply for funding to replace ageing radiotherapy machines. Funding was then allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England developed. These criteria focused on the age of the machine being replaced, the proportion of older machines in use within the trust, and the trust’s performance on radiotherapy.

The Government announced the allocation of new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, machines on 26 May 2025, and within this, a breakdown of trust allocation was given and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/faster-cancer-treatment-thanks-to-new-radiotherapy-machines

The following table shows allocations by National Health Service region:

The Department knows that there is a long way to go to improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment, and that there is significant regional variation in performance. The National Cancer Plan has set out how we intend to tackle these issues, reduce backlogs and provide an NHS that there is when people need it.

In December 2024, NHS England wrote to all radiotherapy treatment providers inviting them to apply for funding to replace ageing radiotherapy machines. Funding was then allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England developed. These criteria focused on the age of the machine being replaced, the proportion of older machines in use within the trust, and the trust’s performance on radiotherapy.

The Government announced the allocation of new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, machines on 26 May 2025, and within this, a breakdown of trust allocation was given and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/faster-cancer-treatment-thanks-to-new-radiotherapy-machines

The following table shows allocations by National Health Service region:

The Department knows that there is a long way to go to improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment, and that there is significant regional variation in performance. The National Cancer Plan has set out how we intend to tackle these issues, reduce backlogs and provide an NHS that there is when people need it.

In December 2024, NHS England wrote to all radiotherapy treatment providers inviting them to apply for funding to replace ageing radiotherapy machines. Funding was then allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England developed. These criteria focused on the age of the machine being replaced, the proportion of older machines in use within the trust, and the trust’s performance on radiotherapy.

The Government announced the allocation of new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, machines on 26 May 2025, and within this, a breakdown of trust allocation was given and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/faster-cancer-treatment-thanks-to-new-radiotherapy-machines

The following table shows allocations by National Health Service region:

The Department knows that there is a long way to go to improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment, and that there is significant regional variation in performance. The National Cancer Plan has set out how we intend to tackle these issues, reduce backlogs and provide an NHS that there is when people need it.

In December 2024, NHS England wrote to all radiotherapy treatment providers inviting them to apply for funding to replace ageing radiotherapy machines. Funding was then allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England developed. These criteria focused on the age of the machine being replaced, the proportion of older machines in use within the trust, and the trust’s performance on radiotherapy.

The Government announced the allocation of new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, machines on 26 May 2025, and within this, a breakdown of trust allocation was given and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/faster-cancer-treatment-thanks-to-new-radiotherapy-machines

The following table shows allocations by National Health Service region:

The Department knows that there is a long way to go to improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment, and that there is significant regional variation in performance. The National Cancer Plan has set out how we intend to tackle these issues, reduce backlogs and provide an NHS that there is when people need it.

In December 2024, NHS England wrote to all radiotherapy treatment providers inviting them to apply for funding to replace ageing radiotherapy machines. Funding was then allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England developed. These criteria focused on the age of the machine being replaced, the proportion of older machines in use within the trust, and the trust’s performance on radiotherapy.

The Government announced the allocation of new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, machines on 26 May 2025, and within this, a breakdown of trust allocation was given and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/faster-cancer-treatment-thanks-to-new-radiotherapy-machines

The following table shows allocations by National Health Service region:

The Department knows that there is a long way to go to improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment, and that there is significant regional variation in performance. The National Cancer Plan has set out how we intend to tackle these issues, reduce backlogs and provide an NHS that there is when people need it.

Through the National Cancer Plan, we are modernising cancer services, expanding the workforce, and tackling inequalities in access, so that all patients receive high-quality care regardless of where they live.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that all patients have timely access to cutting-edge cancer treatments, including radiotherapy. This commitment has been demonstrated by a £70 million investment into 28 new radiotherapy linear accelerator, or LINAC, radiotherapy machines, which are currently being rolled out and replacing outdated, inefficient radiotherapy equipment.

The Department expects that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, ensuring they receive the best possible care.

The responsibility for commissioning radiotherapy services was delegated to integrated care boards from 1 April 2025, and this responsibility includes planning service provision with appropriate National Health Service trusts and taking local factors into account. NHS England has included some guidance about access to radiotherapy and population needs within the national Service Specification for External Beam Radiotherapy, which is pertinent to considering satellite service provision and should assist local determination, as appropriate.