New radiotherapy machines for Cornish hospital

The new radiotherapy machines are expected to help reduce cancer waiting times in Cornwall

Cornwall's main hospital will get two next-generation radiotherapy machines within 12 months, after being awarded £2.6 million by NHS England.

One of the machines, called a linear accelerator (LINAC), has already been installed at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust's (RCHT) Sunrise Centre in Truro and after testing, will start treating patients in September.

The new funds mean a second machine can now be installed by the end of March 2026, earlier than originally planned.

Savvas Rizkalla, head of radiotherapy physics at RCHT, said the machines would be a "real game changer" in helping reduce waiting cancer times and provide "outstanding care".

'Better productivity'

Mr Rizkalla said they were "delighted" to have received funding after their application in January this year.

He added the state-of-the-art machines were "very clever and very versatile devices in that they use high energy electron beams to treat cancers with pinpoint accuracy".

The RCHT said the additional machine would enable the hospital to "further reduce waiting times for cancer patients through efficiency gains and better productivity".

The investment has come from NHS England's National Capital Fund.