E188: Imogen Powell-Brown and Daniel Hutton - Radiotherapy Tariff and Capital Spending
Trigger Warning: this episode discusses access to cancer services and late effects.
Episode 188: Part of the Leadership Series (Part 61)
Description: In this educational episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Imogen Powell Brown and Daniel Hutton.
Daniel Hutton is an experienced Change Manager, Therapeutic Radiographer, and systems thinking practitioner with a strong background in radiotherapy clinical practice. He brings expertise in leading transformation and innovation through collaborative partnership working across diverse organisations. With a unique blend of clinical insight and strategic vision, Daniel supports the design and delivery of sustainable change that improves patient experience, outcomes and, service effectiveness. His research into patient voices and experiences informs his practice, ensuring change is grounded in lived realities. Passionate about healthcare improvement, Daniel is committed to driving meaningful transformation that bridges practice, policy, and organisational objectives.
Imogen Powell Brown is a health policy and public health professional. Coming from a background in public affairs and policy development, Imogen has recently moved in project management within the NHS. She has a Public Health Msc where her dissertation focussed on the implementation of national cancer policy within local systems, considering the role of assurance processes utilised by NHS England. Currently working with the North West Specialised Services Clinical Network, Imogen has led a workstream on improving Cancer Waiting Times and standardising radiotherapy pathways across the region. She has also supported a policy project considering what an innovative and person-centred radiotherapy funding model looks like.
This episode is a deep dive into radiotherapy funding, including the radiotherapy tariff, capital spending and the provision of specialist late effects services. Imogen and Danny discuss how they think radiotherapy funding can be reformed so that it keeps up with best practice, drives innovation and ensures that radiotherapy is person centred. This follows the recent publication of three commentary pieces in the British Journal of Radiology (please see show notes).
CPD Reflection Points:
- Reflect on how funding models in your service impact your ability to implement new technologies or techniques (e.g. adaptive radiotherapy, AI-assisted planning).
- Consider any examples from your workplace where financial barriers have delayed or limited innovation. How could you mitigate for these in service development?
- How does your service currently identify and support patients experiencing long-term side effects or late toxicity? What opportunities exist to improve the integration of supportive oncology or late effects services within your local pathway?
- Consider how Patient Reported Data (PRD) could be used more effectively to guide service improvement and commissioning decisions.
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Links from the Episode:
- What are integrated care boards? https://www.england.nhs.uk/integratedcare/what-is-integrated-care/
Research links from the Episode:
- Radiotherapy commissioning and tariff—how can we deliver advanced, innovative, and personalised radiotherapy | British Journal of Radiology | Oxford Academic
- Sustainable capital funding for modern and innovative radiotherapy services | British Journal of Radiology | Oxford Academic
- Considering late effects costs in radiotherapy funding | British Journal of Radiology | Oxford Academic
Rad Chat Links:
Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.