Hospital starts to treat patients with state-of-the-art radiotherapy

 The first cancer patients are now being treated using new state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines in Lincolnshire’s hospitals.

A new linear accelerator (LINAC) started work at Lincoln County Hospital at the end of June to deliver radiotherapy to patients with cancer, it works by delivering high energy x-rays to the patient’s tumour.

The new machine is part of a £6.7 million investment by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust to replace all three linear accelerators at Lincoln hospital by  2017 and to improve the environment in which treatment is delivered.

The new LINAC uses the most modern technology to provide radiotherapy treatment to patients with tumours to any part or organ in the body. Treatment on the new machines is also more targeted and precise in destroying the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.

This new equipment has been accompanied by a refurbishment of the department to provide easier access for patients and a more comfortable environment.

The investment will allow the department to continue to deliver high quality radiotherapy services to the people of Lincolnshire and develop new techniques to further improve services.

Senior business manager Lisa Vickers said, “We are delighted to see the first of our new LINAC machines in service. This will allow us to offer our patients radiotherapy treatment using modern techniques locally.

“The feedback we have had from patients treated on the new machine has been excellent and they like the new environment much better.”