5 November 2013
Thousands of cancer patients are set to benefit from a new £1.7million cancer treatment machine when it is unveiled at Weston Park Hospital this month (6th November).
The machine, called Truebeam, is a linear accelerator and is one of the most advanced radiation therapy machines of its kind that is able to target cancer cells with pinpoint accuracy. It is expected that the Truebeam will treat up to 9,000 patients a year. Local celebrity Rita May, an actress who has starred in tv shows such as Coronation Street and Trollied will be officially opening the new machine at a launch event on the 6th November.
The Truebeam offers treatment up to four times faster than many other machines, with an accuracy down to the millimetre. It also delivers radiation therapy more efficiently, further reducing side effects, shortening the time needed for treatment and enabling patients to have a much better experience.
Dr Patricia Fisher, Clinical Director of Specialised Cancer Services at Sheffield NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust said:
“Weston Park Hospital is a dedicated cancer hospital with a reputation for excellence in both clinical outcomes and patient experience. This new technology enables us to continue to be a pioneer in cancer care and deliver the very best treatment for our patients. As well as delivering treatment quicker the Truebeam also opens up the benefits of advanced radiotherapy to patients who wouldn't previously have been suitable.”
The installation of this machine also ensures the hospital continues to take part in vital research, with the prospect of leading to further breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the future.
Weston Park Hospital which forms part of Sheffield NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust serves a population of around 1.8million. This covers Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Worksop, Chesterfield and north Derbyshire, making it the 6th largest radiotherapy centre in the UK.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT:
Andrew Johnson, Communications Assistant
Tel: 0114 271 3453
Email: Andrew.johnson@sth.nhs.uk
