Radiotherapy

In 2017–18, almost 67,800 courses of radiotherapy were delivered in Australia. 50% of all radiotherapy patients started treatment within 10 days, and 90% within 26 days. For those who needed emergency treatment (1.4% of courses), 96% began treatment within the recommended timeframe—on the same or the next day.

In 2016–17, over 63,500 courses of radiotherapy were delivered in Australia. 50% of all radiotherapy patients started treatment within 9 days, and 90% within 26 days. For those who needed emergency treatment (1.5% of courses), almost 95% began treatment within the recommended timeframe—on the same or the next day.

In 2015–16, 60,600 courses of radiotherapy were delivered in Australia. For non-emergency treatment, 50% of patients started treatment within 9 days, and 90% within 27 days. For those who needed emergency treatment, 91% began treatment within the emergency timeframe. Data covered effectively 100% of courses delivered in Australia.

In this report on the first pilot year collection of national radiotherapy data, data were received from 53 (out of 72) service locations across Australia. These services contributed information about 47,700 courses of radiotherapy delivered in 2013–14. For non-emergency treatment, 50% of patients started treatment within 13 days and 90% started within 33 days. For those who needed emergency treatment, 90% began treatment within the emergency timeframe.

This report was prepared at the request of the NSW Health Department, following a proposal to establish an intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) facility in the State.