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| Nuclear cancer treatment: Plan to make Wales global leader | Nuclear cancer treatment: Plan to make Wales global leader |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 200 jobs could be created if the plan can secure funding | More than 200 jobs could be created if the plan can secure funding |
| Plans have been unveiled to make Wales a global centre of excellence and leader in the production of life-saving cancer-treating substances. | Plans have been unveiled to make Wales a global centre of excellence and leader in the production of life-saving cancer-treating substances. |
| Radioisotopes are radioactive atoms used to diagnose and treat cancer. | Radioisotopes are radioactive atoms used to diagnose and treat cancer. |
| The Welsh government said nuclear medicine in the UK, Europe and beyond will face a supply crisis by 2030 if nothing was done. | The Welsh government said nuclear medicine in the UK, Europe and beyond will face a supply crisis by 2030 if nothing was done. |
| It wants the UK government and other partners to help fund the multi-million pound plan which could create 200 jobs. | It wants the UK government and other partners to help fund the multi-million pound plan which could create 200 jobs. |
| The Welsh government wants to secure the supply of medical radioisotopes for Wales and the UK through the development of a project called the Advanced Radioisotope Technology for Health Utility Reactor (Arthur). | The Welsh government wants to secure the supply of medical radioisotopes for Wales and the UK through the development of a project called the Advanced Radioisotope Technology for Health Utility Reactor (Arthur). |
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| Based in Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, the £400m facility would be a public sector national laboratory with its own nuclear reactor, producing the medical radioisotopes for use in the NHS in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Based in Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, the £400m facility would be a public sector national laboratory with its own nuclear reactor, producing the medical radioisotopes for use in the NHS in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
| Wales' Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: "Our vision is the creation of project Arthur - a world-leading nuclear medicine facility, which will bring together a critical mass of nuclear science research, development and innovation. | Wales' Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: "Our vision is the creation of project Arthur - a world-leading nuclear medicine facility, which will bring together a critical mass of nuclear science research, development and innovation. |
| "Through this development, not only can Wales become the leading place in the UK for medical radioisotope production - producing life-saving medical radioisotopes that are critical to cancer diagnosis and treatment | "Through this development, not only can Wales become the leading place in the UK for medical radioisotope production - producing life-saving medical radioisotopes that are critical to cancer diagnosis and treatment |
| "But we can also attract higher-skilled jobs, create a surrounding infrastructure, support local communities and build local supply chains." | "But we can also attract higher-skilled jobs, create a surrounding infrastructure, support local communities and build local supply chains." |
| What are radioisotopes? | What are radioisotopes? |
| Radioisotopes can be used to diagnose cancer and treat certain types of the disease such as prostate and liver - when they are injected or swallowed and absorbed by cancers from within the body. | Radioisotopes can be used to diagnose cancer and treat certain types of the disease such as prostate and liver - when they are injected or swallowed and absorbed by cancers from within the body. |
| Using them is a very common way of treating people or diagnosing people in the NHS already. | Using them is a very common way of treating people or diagnosing people in the NHS already. |
| People typically get a dose of the nuclear medicine which is put into their body and it radiates. | People typically get a dose of the nuclear medicine which is put into their body and it radiates. |
| A gamma, for example, is a type of radiation. When it leaves the body, it can be detected to show its size and location on a scanner. | A gamma, for example, is a type of radiation. When it leaves the body, it can be detected to show its size and location on a scanner. |
| But it should not be confused with external radiotherapy where they blast tumours from outside the body with radiation. | But it should not be confused with external radiotherapy where they blast tumours from outside the body with radiation. |
| Why is this important? | Why is this important? |
| The reason the Welsh government wants to push this project is because around the world, reactors producing them are ageing, there is already a limited supply and the UK lacks nuclear medicine. | The reason the Welsh government wants to push this project is because around the world, reactors producing them are ageing, there is already a limited supply and the UK lacks nuclear medicine. |
| Building a nuclear medicine reactor in north Wales would allow the production of nuclear medicines such as radioisotopes for the UK, and potentially beyond, as well as create jobs. | Building a nuclear medicine reactor in north Wales would allow the production of nuclear medicines such as radioisotopes for the UK, and potentially beyond, as well as create jobs. |
| "Considerable" investment is needed to make the project viable, says Vaughan Gething | "Considerable" investment is needed to make the project viable, says Vaughan Gething |
| The jobs will include roles such as research scientists and engineers, drivers and operations, production, technical and office staff. | The jobs will include roles such as research scientists and engineers, drivers and operations, production, technical and office staff. |
| But Mr Gething said the amount of investment needed to bring the project to life was "considerable". | But Mr Gething said the amount of investment needed to bring the project to life was "considerable". |
| He added: "I am calling on the UK government to co-operate in supporting our efforts, since this development benefits and supports future cancer diagnostics and treatment right across the UK. | He added: "I am calling on the UK government to co-operate in supporting our efforts, since this development benefits and supports future cancer diagnostics and treatment right across the UK. |
| "Now is the time for decisive action and commitment. The implications of not acting will be counted in human lives and in long-term economic pressure on health services, through unsustainable health treatments." | "Now is the time for decisive action and commitment. The implications of not acting will be counted in human lives and in long-term economic pressure on health services, through unsustainable health treatments." |
| The UK government have been asked to comment. | The UK government have been asked to comment. |
| Prof Simon Middleburgh, co-director of the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University, said: "If we don't start working out where we're going to get these nuclear medicines from, people are just not going to get diagnosed. | Prof Simon Middleburgh, co-director of the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University, said: "If we don't start working out where we're going to get these nuclear medicines from, people are just not going to get diagnosed. |
| "We already need to improve our cancer survivability rates in the UK and by removing one of the key diagnostic treatment avenues for that - it's not the only one, but it's key - it will just make our outcomes much worse, and unfortunately, it's another pressure on the NHS." | "We already need to improve our cancer survivability rates in the UK and by removing one of the key diagnostic treatment avenues for that - it's not the only one, but it's key - it will just make our outcomes much worse, and unfortunately, it's another pressure on the NHS." |
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