Swindon hospital launches radiotherapy unit appeal

It is hoped treatment could be available in Swindon by the end of 2017

A fundraising appeal is being launched in Wiltshire to help hundreds of radiotherapy patients receive treatment closer to home.

The Great Western Hospital (GWH) in Swindon needs £2.9m to equip its own radiotherapy cancer treatment centre.

Around 700 people had to undertake a 60-mile round trip to Oxford for treatment in 2013/14 - some doing it several times a week - the NHS said.

It is hoped treatment will be available in Swindon by the end of 2017.

Dr Guy Rooney, medical director for the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Bringing radiotherapy treatment to Swindon will make such a difference to local patients and their families, friends and carers and will be an excellent addition to the facilities already available at GWH.

"We are working closely with our colleagues at Oxford to make this vision a reality and I am sure that local people will get behind the fundraising appeal."

The money raised by the Brighter Futures charity will be used to buy two linear accelerators to deliver the treatment inside the new unit which is being funded by the Oxford University Hospitals Trust.