What action is the Minister taking to further fund and explore the use of nuclear medical isotopes in the health service?
Radionuclides have a number of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. We are working closely with the NHS in Wales to make provision for these applications.
One notable area of focus has been Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET-CT). The Welsh Government worked with the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee to bring forward a Programme Business Case to develop sufficient PET-CT capacity across Wales to meet future demand. This programme has delivered its first phase, which included the replacement and updating of the fixed PET-CT scanner in Cardiff. Future phases include consideration of cases for additional fixed scanners in west and north Wales. We have also made investments in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) equipment. In addition, the Welsh Government has tasked the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee to establish a national Molecular Radiotherapy Programme. This Programme is developing a strategy for the development of therapeutic molecular radiotherapies to ensure Wales is positioned with the required facilities, workforce, and licenses to implement future recommended treatments.
Work is underway to reconfigure facilities for the sterile preparation of medicines (known as aseptic services) as part of the Transforming Access to Medicines (TRAMS) programme. This will include the potential for the reprovision of regional radio-pharmacies, which provide radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases.
Within the UK, our capability to produce medical radioisotopes is limited to a small fleet of cyclotrons, and we rely on an aging fleet of reactors in the rest of Europe to provide the bulk of medical radioisotopes. To improve the sustainable supply of medical radioisotopes over the long-term, we have been working with counterparts across the UK to consider the opportunity for developing a capability for the production, research, and application of medical radioisotopes. The Welsh Government-led ARTHUR Programme is one such initiative under consideration, examining the opportunity for deployment of a medical radioisotope production facility in northwest Wales. Such a facility would ensure the UK has a reliable and sustainable source of medical radioisotopes available for NHS care and research purposes.