title: Survey of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy in the UK by the QA group on behalf of the UK SABR Consortium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the progress being made towards the implementation of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) treatment in the UK, to obtain details of current practice in centres with an active treatment programme and to assess the projected future provision.
  
  
  METHODS
  In August 2012, an online questionnaire was sent to all 65 UK radiotherapy institutions. The included questions covered the current number of patients being treated and the intended number of patients for each clinical site; immobilization and motion management methods; CT scanning protocols; target and organ-at-risk delineation; treatment planning; image-guidance and treatment protocols; and quality assurance methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  48/65 (74%) institutions responded by the end of November 2012, with 15 indicating an active SABR programme. A further four centres indicated that a SABR protocol had been established but was not yet in clinical use. 14 of the 29 remaining responses stated an intention to develop a SABR programme in the next 2 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey responses confirm that SABR provision in the UK is increasing and that this should be expected to continue in the next 2 years. A projection of the future uptake would suggest that by the end of 2014, UK SABR provision will be broadly in line with international practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Distefano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: A J D
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom