A £70 million Government investment will see linear accelerator (Linac) machines rolled out at hospitals across the nation from August.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the new technology would “free up capacity so that thousands more patients are treated on time”.
The Linac machines are being prioritised in hospitals where existing machinery is over a decade old.
The latest technology is safer for patients than older radiotherapy machines, and can more closely target tumours and cause less damage to healthy tissue.
The machines are particularly effective with harder-to-reach areas of the body, like the chest and pelvis.
The 28 hospital trusts receiving an upgraded scanner are:
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
- United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Barts Health NHS Trust
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
The Department for Health and Social Care claims the new Linac machines could reduce the number of hospital visits patients have to make for radiotherapy treatment.
It says 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.
Mr Streeting said: “There is a revolution taking place in medical technology which can transform treatment for cancer patients.
“But NHS hospitals are forced to use outdated, malfunctioning equipment thanks to 14 years of under-investment under the previous government.
“Thanks to the investment this Government is making in our NHS, we will provide more cancer patients with world-class, cutting-edge care.”
He added: “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.
“As a cancer survivor, I know just how important timely treatment is.
“These machines are part of the investment and modernisation that will cut waiting times for patients, through our plan for change.”
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Charity Macmillan Cancer described the announcement as an “exciting step forward for cancer treatment in England”.
Kate Seymour, head of external affairs at the charity, added: “Many people across the country are facing long delays for care but today proves that better is possible.
“Investment in cutting-edge technology is essential to bring down waiting times and help more people with cancer get the best care the UK has to offer, whoever and wherever they are.”
