The Beacon Centre in Taunton opened its doors on 6 May, after years of planning and fundraising.
The Beacon Centre, part of Musgrove Park Hospital – the largest general hospital in Somerset – will provide radiotherapy for the whole of Somerset and neighbouring counties, eliminating long journeys to Bristol and Exeter.
The equipment includes two Elekta linacs, one equipped with Synergy CBCT, a Phillips Brilliance wide-bore scanner, Pinnacle & AcQSim planning systems, and Mosaiq Oncology Information System.
A third linac, scheduled to be installed by the autumn, will allow the centre to treat some 1200 patients each year.
The PFI initiative is partly equipped by the fundraising efforts of SURE (Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment), a charity set up by local people. Over £1.1 million was raised which has supplied the centre with the CT Sim and ancillary equipment and also will pay for a mould room.
The first radiotherapy patient was treated at the end of May with treatment sites gradually being repatriated from Bristol throughout the summer.
The department is currently paper-light with the intention of being the first paperless radiotherapy department in the UK. The team of radiographers have been recruited from a wide area and include students who will start work when they qualify. This enables the centre to have a varied skill mix from multiple centres rather than, as often happens with smaller regional departments, a transfer of staff from a lone department.
Role extension is actively encouraged with a Macmillan information and support radiographer and a research and development radiographer already in post. Further role development is planned for the future.
The centre also provides inpatient oncology facilities with 10 beds, a day case chemotherapy suite for 22 patients and outpatient clinic facilities.
Kàren Morgan, a Macmillan information and support radiographer, commented: “We recently had an open day for the public, many of whom were ex-radiotherapy patients who had previously had to travel to Bristol and Exeter for treatment. Many expressed great joy at the prospect of radiotherapy being available locally for future patients.”
Mandy Pitt, a radiographer in treatment planning, added: “Being a radiographer in the new planning department is really exciting. I will have the opportunity to work with the latest software and techniques, as well as working with a great team of enthusiastic and experienced professionals.”
For further information, email Keren Anstey or telephone 01823 344248.
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