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yesterday

UK Government Pledges £70m for Advanced Radiotherapy Machines at 28 NHS Hospitals

Set to begin in August 2025, the programme will replace decade-old scanners, freeing capacity for up to 27,500 additional treatments annually by March 2027.

image: ©Mark Kostich iStock
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Overview

  • The £70 million investment will fund new Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machines across 28 NHS trusts in England to modernise cancer care.
  • Hospitals using radiotherapy equipment over ten years old are being prioritised to reduce the risk of appointment cancellations due to faults.
  • Cutting-edge LINAC technology can halve the number of hospital visits, target tumours more precisely and minimise damage to healthy tissue.
  • By March 2027 the upgraded machines are projected to deliver up to 27,500 extra treatments a year, including 4,500 first courses within 62 days of referral.
  • Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK have welcomed the boost to reduce waiting times, while the Shadow Health Secretary has called for early diagnosis targets to be reinstated.