New machine is major boost to cancer care
A new, advanced machine that delivers radiotherapy treatment is helping improve cancer care to patients at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
The £1.6million state-of-the-art machine, which is based at Southend Hospital, significantly improves cancer treatment, increasing capacity to treat people more quickly.
The machine is called a linear accelerator, and it uses beams of high energy X-rays or electrons, to give radiation treatments for patients with cancer anywhere in the body. The new machine destroys cancer cells, reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Nicolai Greet, Head of Radiotherapy, said: “Our new linear accelerator, known as a linac for short, means we can deliver more accurate radiotherapy than ever before, taking less time, meaning that patients receive their treatment sooner and hopefully recover more quickly.
“The linac means we have the very latest technology to help patients in Mid and South Essex, so we can be more efficient and deliver even more accurate radiotherapy. This will help improve the lives and outcomes of patients who need radiotherapy.”
The machine was bought as part of the Trust’s ongoing replacement and upgrade programme and has been in use since August this year.