Cancer staff trained on new machine that’s a UK first
Hospital staff have had specialist training on a cutting-edge radiotherapy machine that will help treat cancer patients. The machine is the first of its advanced-type in the country, and is the very latest version of it for cancer treatment.
Based at Southend Hospital, the next generation Linear Accelerator, or LINAC for short, cost £3.5 million. It will welcome its first patients in February, offering them more precise, targeted radiation therapy.
Using beams of high energy X-rays or electrons, the machine will give focussed radiation treatments to target and destroy cancer cells in nearly all types of cancer, anywhere in the body.
Most importantly, it will reduce damage to surrounding healthy tissue, helping to improve both treatment and recovery times.
Ten radiotherapy department staff, including therapeutic radiographers, clinical scientists and dosimetrists, have been receiving training on the new machine. One of those who shared their excitement about what the new LINAC can offer patients was Senior Therapeutic Radiographer, Adrian Ardelean.
He said: “I’ve just recently had my training on the new machine and it’s exciting to be able to use the latest technology that I know will improve the quality of care we can provide. Everything is different in the design of this LINAC, meaning this machine is going to deliver treatment in much less time.
“It will allow us to treat more people, more efficiently, and reduce the amount of time people need to wait for treatment, giving a better patient experience.”
Head of Radiotherapy Physics at the Trust, Nicky Whilde, said: “It’s an exciting time to be working in cancer care and this new technology is going to be a game-changer for our team and our patients.
“We’re the first in the country to have this new LINAC machine, with this type of software, on site, up and running. This means we will be able to offer a new level of precision that will benefit patients not just at Southend Hospital, which is the cancer centre for the Trust, but across mid and south Essex.”
Housed in its own specially built £5.3 million extension to the existing radiotherapy department, it joins three other LINACs already in use at Southend Hospital.