New radiotherapy machines to speed cancer treatment

Thousands of cancer patients will receive faster treatment thanks to new "state-of-the-art" radiotherapy machines, the government has announced.

Across every region in the country, 28 hospitals, including ones managed by the Royal Berkshire and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts, are to receive the cutting-edge equipment.

The Department of Health & Social Care said that by March 2027, "up to 27,500 additional treatments per year will be delivered, including up to 4,500 receiving their first treatment for cancer within 62-days of referral".

The machines will be rolled out from August, funded by a £70m investment as part of the plans to improve cancer care.

The government said the new linear accelerator (LINAC) machines would replace the older ones, saving "save as many as 13,000 appointments from being lost to equipment breakdown".

It said the new machines were "safer for patients" and "can more precisely target tumours".

The technology is being prioritised in hospitals which are currently using outdated treatment machines older than 10 years.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that as a cancer survivor, "I know just how important timely treatment is".

"There is a revolution taking place in medical technology which can transform treatment for cancer patients," Mr Streeting said.

"But NHS hospitals are forced to use outdated, malfunctioning equipment thanks to 14 years of underinvestment under the previous government.

"By reducing the number of hospital visits required and preventing cancelled appointments, these state of the art radiotherapy machines free up capacity so that thousands more patients are treated on time."

The investment follows on from the government rolling out 13 new bone density scanners across the country which will allow 29,000 extra bone scans delivered per year.

The government said that "over 3 million appointments have already been delivered since the end of June 2024, smashing the government's target of delivering 2 million extra operations, scans and appointments."

It added that "significant work" was being carried out to get cancers diagnosed "more quickly than ever before".

A full list on the trusts receiving an upgraded scanner is available on the government website.

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