Radiotherapy at St Richard's

Radiotherapy is a core part of modern cancer treatment and is second only to surgery in its effectiveness in treating cancer. About 40% of cancer patients who are cured receive radiotherapy cancer treatment. Between 2012-2014 there are on average 3,501 newly diagnosed malignant tumours in people living in the area covered by the Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group, out of a population of 482,100. However there are no radiotherapy facilities within the county of West Sussex.

Gillian has been calling for St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester to be equipped with a radiotherapy unit as many of Chichester residents are travelling significant distances to receive treatment, typically either Brighton or Portsmouth.

News

Chichester MP continues calls for better local cancer treatment

Gillian continued her ongoing campaign to introduce radiotherapy treatment at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester. The MP has been campaigning for a new centre to be established at the hospital since 2017. In a recent letter to the new Chief Executive Officer of the University Hospitals Sussex NHS

MP wears it pink for Breast Cancer Now fundraiser

Gillian Keegan MP for Chichester added a dash of pink to their usual attire to support Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink fundraiser, which takes place on Friday 18 October. Since launching in 2002, wear it pink has raised over £33 million to date.

MPs meet with Minister to improve cancer services.

Chichester MP, Gillian Keegan continued her campaign to improve radiotherapy services in the UK. The Member of Parliament has been working to secure a linac machine, used in radiotherapy treatment, at St Richard’s Hospital as well as to improve services nationally.

Questions to the Prime Minister

Gillian Keegan MP: One in two people in the UK now develops cancer at some point in their lifetime, and around 60% of them will require radiotherapy as part of their treatment.

Gillian visits Linac factory

Gillian Keegan MP was shown around the Elekta factory, a leading innovator of equipment and software used to improve, prolong and save the lives of people with cancer and brain disorders. The Chichester MP visited the site to see their new radiotherapy machines, the MR-Linac.