Mentions:
1: Lord Patel (CB - Life peer) I believe that has led to supply problems of radioisotopes imported for both treatment and measurements - Speech Link
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress his Department has made on developing a domestic supply of medical isotopes as part of the Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero is delivering the up to £6 million Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme (MRIP) which aims to identify technology and policy options that could support domestic supply of medical radionuclides in the future.
MRIP launched in December 2022 and will run until March 2025.
The programme will deliver an assessment of the UK supply and demand landscape, building on existing research. It will test data against potential future scenarios to inform policy development and future Government decision-making. Officials are currently finalising Phase I of the Landscape Assessment, with Phase II commencing next financial year to focus on modelling future supply and demand scenarios.
In parallel, several feasibility studies are ongoing by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to assess whether the retrieval of radionuclides from legacy material is possible, and whether this material might be useful in supporting domestic supply and research.
The Innovation Project Call aims to spark innovation in the field and the competitive call will commence later this year. The call aims to spark innovation across the supply chain, to develop new radionuclide production capability in the UK.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of developing a nuclear material test reactor in the UK on the domestic supply of medical isotopes.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero recognises the importance of maintaining future access to medical radionuclides for UK patients.
No specific assessment has been made on the potential impact of developing a nuclear material test reactor in the UK on the domestic supply of medical isotopes. The Department is, however, delivering the up to £6 million Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme which aims to identify technology and policy options that could secure access to radionuclides for nuclear medicine services. The programme will consider the development of a domestic research reactor as a potential option.
Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department of Health and Social Care continue to meet regularly with their counterparts in the Devolved Governments to discuss medical radionuclide supply, most recently on the 9 March 2023.
The Department will continue to work with Welsh Government as their proposal for a medical isotope centre in North Wales progresses.
Feb. 02 2024
Source Page: I. A national policy statement for new nuclear power generation: consultation on the new approach to siting beyond 2025. Incl. annexes. 59p. II. Alternative routes to market for new nuclear projects. 43p.Found: In addition, they have the potential to transmute some of the long- lived radioisotopes found in spent
Jan. 11 2024
Source Page: Alternative routes to market for new nuclear projectsFound: In addition, they have the potential to transmute some of the long- lived radioisotopes found in spent
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with the Welsh government on proposals for a national medical isotope centre in Trawsfynydd.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero recognises the importance of maintaining future access to medical radionuclides for UK patients.
No specific assessment has been made on the potential impact of developing a nuclear material test reactor in the UK on the domestic supply of medical isotopes. The Department is, however, delivering the up to £6 million Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme which aims to identify technology and policy options that could secure access to radionuclides for nuclear medicine services. The programme will consider the development of a domestic research reactor as a potential option.
Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department of Health and Social Care continue to meet regularly with their counterparts in the Devolved Governments to discuss medical radionuclide supply, most recently on the 9 March 2023.
The Department will continue to work with Welsh Government as their proposal for a medical isotope centre in North Wales progresses.
Feb. 02 2024
Source Page: I. A national policy statement for new nuclear power generation: consultation on the new approach to siting beyond 2025. Incl. annexes. 59p. II. Alternative routes to market for new nuclear projects. 43p.Found: generating output of less than 50MW in England and reactors that are solely used to produce medical radioisotopes
Jan. 11 2024
Source Page: Approach to siting new nuclear power stations beyond 2025Found: generating output of less than 50MW in England and reactors that are solely used to produce medical radioisotopes
Jul. 03 2008
Source Page: Safety in doses: medication safety incidents in the NHS. Fourth report from the Patient Safety Observatory. 72 p.Found: a high potential for severe harm (for example, chemotherapy, injectable contrast media for scans, radioisotopes