Written questions

Radioisotopes

Lords · Question HL7548 · Tabled 15 May 2025 · Department of Health and Social Care · Official record

Answered 22 May 2025

Question

Asked by Lord Wigley

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of medical radioisotopes used to treat cancer in the UK are produced by (1) a reactor-based method, and (2) close to hospital cyclotron manufacture.

Answer

Answered by Baroness Merron, 22 May 2025

Medical radioisotopes can be produced in different ways and the cyclotrons used in the United Kingdom produce a small supply of medical radioisotopes, mainly for diagnostic use. This is because the cyclotrons used in the UK supply relatively low-level rad...