The Rutherford Cancer Centre Thames Valley today announced the opening of its new proton therapy suite, the first such facility in South East England. The centre will begin treating its first cancer patients within a fortnight.
The Thames Valley centre, which will serve all of London, as well as international patients, has a permanent consultation facility in London’s Harley Street. This will allow patients to undergo initial consultations in London before receiving treatment at Thames Valley, which is a 25-min train journey away in Reading. The new centre is part of a network of Rutherford Cancer Centres, which also includes fully operational facilities in Wales and Northumberland.
“The opening of our latest proton beam therapy suite marks a major milestone for advanced cancer care in the UK,” says Mike Moran, chief executive of Rutherford Health Plc, which operates the Rutherford Cancer Centres. “It is remarkable that just over a year ago, there were no such facilities in the UK. Patients who needed precision radiotherapy had to travel abroad. It reflects the rising demand for precision radiotherapy and we are determined to ensure cancer patients can receive the treatment that they need without facing any delays or having to travel abroad.”
Each Rutherford Cancer Centre provides imaging, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and proton therapy, as well as a suite of diagnostic services. A fourth is currently under construction in Liverpool.
“UK cancer care has made major strides over the past year thanks to a complementary mix of private and public facilities but rising demand for precision radiotherapy means that there is still some way to go,” says Karol Sikora, chief medical officer of Rutherford Health Plc. “Based on treatment rates in other advanced European countries, the UK may need approximately 18 proton beam therapy facilities in the years to come.”
Laura Geer, centre manager of Rutherford Cancer Centre Thames Valley, adds: “Bringing advanced cancer treatments to the most populous region of the UK and the biggest city in Europe for the first time will have a major impact on patient outcomes and help transform cancer care nationally.”
