About the Radiotherapy ODN

The East Midlands Radiotherapy Operational Delivery Network (EMODN) is one of eleven networks commissioned by specialised commissioning across England. The purpose of these networks is to improve patient access, develop a higher quality service, advance in techniques, and innovate new procedures.

The full-service specification can be accessed here. 

The EMODN enables Trusts to work collaboratively to enhance patient experience, by minimising treatment times and using state of the art methodology and equipment and reducing the need for patients to travel to specialist radiotherapy sites to access the latest research opportunities available. The ODN (Operational Delivery Network) provides specialised services across x5 Trusts in the East Midlands including: 

  1. Northampton General Hospital (NGH) 
  1. Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) 
  1. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) 
  1. University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) 
  1. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) 

About The Radiothaerapy ODN:

Radiotherapy is the use of high-energy radiation to treat illnesses. When used as cancer treatment, radiotherapy is used to shrink tumours and kill cancer cells by damaging the cells’ DNA. X-rays, gamma-rays, and charged particles are types of radiation used for cancer treatment. If the treatment is given from outside the body it is referred to as external radiotherapy and if it is given from within the body it is referred to as internal radiotherapy. 

The Radiotherapy ODN is a collaboration of clinical experts to oversee delivery and development of services, as well as to provide specialist advice and guidance to the East Midlands Cancer Alliance, Integrated Care Boards and the NHS England (NHSE) Specialised Commissioning. This includes focus on the standards of service for patients requiring all forms of radiotherapy treatment reflecting current best practice and opportunities for development. 

The ODN aims to ensure that patients receive high quality, equitable radiotherapeutic cancer care throughout the East Midlands regardless of geography or socio-economic factors and will, wherever possible, endeavour to improve the standard of care provided. 

The East Midlands ODN:  

  • Hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) with a dedicated Network Manager and overseen by a network oversight group (NOG). 
  • Promotes standardisation of practice and constant innovation and is undergoing development to ensure delivery of proactive of best practice standards.  
  • Is linked to academia in facilitating and encouraging students of all abilities by using various modalities to enrich students learning, practices and techniques.  
  • Manages co-dependencies and patient flows impacting upon workforce and equipment and technologies.  
  • Maintains the schedule for equipment replacement programme. 
  • Supports continual opportunities for all staff for self- improvement and advancement opportunities.  
  • Enables collaboration provides some flexibility to work across sites and projects to share intelligence, abilities, and scope of practices.  
  • Remains committed to a patient-focused service with patients advising developments to support continuous improvement of patient outcomes to meet population health needs.