Cancer patient praises 'amazing' new £18.4 million Radiotherapy Centre in Swindon
The site means patients will no longer have to travel to Oxford for treatment
Last updated 23rd Jun 2022
A cancer patient from our region has shared her delight with Greatest Hits Radio, after a new radiotherapy centre opened in Swindon.
The £18.4 million facility at Great Western Hospital (GWH) means patients will no longer need to travel to Oxford, a 70-mile round trip, to receive treatment.
Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) will run the site, expanding its radiotherapy service which is currently provided solely from Churchill Hospital in Oxford.
The new building, which had a ceremonial opening on Wednesday 22 June, will save more than 13,000 journeys to Oxford every year.
The idea of hosting a radiotherapy centre in Swindon was first conceived by local health bosses more than 20 years ago, but the wheels truly got in motion for the project in 2015.
Building work subsequently commenced in August 2020, and the site will start welcoming patients later this summer.
OUH has invested £15.5 million into the facility, with Swindon charity Brighter Futures contributing an additional £2.9 million.
The latter sum has paid for the Centre's specialist equipment, including two state-of-the-art linear accelerators, which are mostly used for external beam radiotherapy, and a CT scanner.
'Will make a difference to thousands and thousands of lives'
Sandra McGloan has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice during the last six years.
In order to receive radiotherapy treatment, she's had to travel to hospitals outside of Wiltshire dozens of times.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, the retail store manager said having a treatment centre in Swindon is "amazing".
"I know first hand that having to do a 70-mile round trip to receive your treatment is not good. When you're going Monday to Friday for four weeks, it takes a toll not only physically (and) emotionally, but financially as well.
"For anyone in the Swindon area, to have it (radiotherapy treatment) on their doorstep is brilliant, because you are at the lowest you will probably ever be in your life, when you get diagnosed with cancer. It's about having support networks for you, but locally.
"This radiotherapy centre will make such a difference to thousands and thousands and thousands of lives," she added.
'Thanks to every person who has helped us get to this stage'
Kevin McNamara, Chief Executive of GWH NHS Foundation Trust, said he was "thrilled" that years of hard work had finally come to fruition.
"Bringing radiotherapy closer to home will save thousands every year the extra travel and stress during what is an extremely difficult time.
"My thanks goes to every person who has helped us get to this stage. We hope that, with the relationship we’ve formed with OUH NHS Foundation Trust, many patients will have a much better experience when receiving treatment for cancer," he added.
GWH is now inviting local residents to explore its new facilities, including the Radiotherapy Centre, at an open day on Saturday 16 July.