AlignRT for intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery

Equality considerations

NICE is committed to promoting equality, eliminating unlawful discrimination and fostering good relations between people with particular protected characteristics and others. In producing guidance and advice, NICE aims to comply fully with all legal obligations to: promote race and disability equality and equality of opportunity between men and women, eliminate unlawful discrimination on grounds of race, disability, age, sex, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity (including women post-delivery), sexual orientation, and religion or belief (these are protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010).

No specific equality issues were identified but all patients with cancer are considered disabled from the point of diagnosis. The use of AlignRT would allow people who could not hold a bite-block to access therapy more easily, and would provide benefits to patients who suffer from anxiety or claustrophobia in a closed-face mask.