NHS patients will be the first in Europe to benefit from a
ground-breaking, non-invasive liver cancer treatment, as the
Government's Plan for Change slashes burdensome red tape and
drives innovation, establishing Britain's role as a medical
technology powerhouse.
Using ultrasound technology, the device – developed by
US-based company HistoSonics – destroys tumours without surgery,
scalpels, radiation, with minimal damage to surrounding organs.
Patients stand to benefit from faster recovery times,
potentially greater survival rates, fewer potentially
dangerous complications, and less hospital stays – helping to cut
waits for others – all marking a new era in cancer treatment.
Ongoing research is exploring its potential to transform
treatment for other hard-to-reach tumours – including kidney and
pancreatic cancers – bringing hope to even more NHS patients in
the future.
Treatment is delivered via a single short session – potentially
taking no longer than 30 minutes – with limited or no pain, a
quick recovery, and can be performed as a day case.
As the Government busts the bureaucracy holding back public
services and stifling innovation, Health and Social Care
Secretary granted authorisation for controlled early
access to the device via an unmet clinical need
authorisation. Available through the UK's Innovative Devices
Access Pathway programme, a government-funded scheme
to get cutting-edge health innovations to the market
much quicker, NHS patients can benefit from technology years
earlier than planned.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
Bureaucracy has become a handbrake on ambition, stopping
innovation in its tracks and holding our health service back.
But through our Plan for Change, we are slashing red tape, so
game-changing new treatments reach the NHS front line quicker –
transforming healthcare.
Regulation is vital to protect patients. However, as the pace of
innovation ramps up, our processes must be more agile to help
speed the shift from analogue to digital.
Our common sense approach to regulation will streamline approval
processes so countless more patients are liberated from
life-limiting conditions.
The technology, called histotripsy, is being debuted at
Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, part of Cambridge University
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) with the first NHS patients
being treated using the game-changing device this summer. The
technology was procured and installed thanks to a generous
donation to the University of Cambridge from the Li Ka Shing
Foundation, which has been a longstanding supporter of cancer
research at the University.
Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Cambridge, said:
Through his longstanding support of cancer research at Cambridge,
Sir Ka-shing Li continues to make a significant impact on
outcomes for cancer patients.
Cutting-edge technology such as this histotripsy machine allows
Cambridge to remain at the forefront of understanding and
treating cancer, a position we aim to strengthen further with
Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
The Government's Plan for Change is focused on securing the
UK's position as a global tech powerhouse - including in
healthcare - which fosters innovation to transform the lives of
working people and deliver a decade of national renewal.
The move delivers on the Government's commitment to tackle
bureaucracy blocking investment and regulatory complexity that
has previously stifled growth.
Roland Sinker, Chief Executive of Cambridge University Hospitals
said:
Histotripsy is an exciting new technology that will make a huge
difference to patients.
By offering this non-invasive, more targeted treatment we can
care for more people as outpatients and free up time for surgeons
to treat more complex cases.
The faster recovery times mean patients will be able to return to
their normal lives more quickly, which will also reduce pressure
on hospital beds, helping us ensure that patients are able to
receive the right treatment at the right time.
We are delighted to be receiving this new state of the art
machine.
Fiona Carey, Co-chair of the Patient Advisory Group for Cambridge
Cancer Research Hospital and kidney cancer patient with advanced
disease, said:
This is seriously good news. A new, non-invasive option to treat
these cancers is very welcome indeed.
For patients for whom ordinary surgery is no longer an option,
this could make all the difference.
James Pound, Interim Executive Director, Innovation and
Compliance at MHRA, said:
This is a strong example of smart, agile regulation in action.
Working closely with partners through the Innovative Devices
Access Pathway, we've shown we can get promising technologies to
patients faster – without compromising safety.
It's a major step forward for patients with liver cancer and
shows how the UK can be a frontrunner in supporting responsible
innovation that meets real clinical need.
