A European first at the new Guy's Hospital cancer centre

Published: 17-Mar-2016

Linear accelerators installed above ground level for the first time in Europe

Linear accelerators have been delivered and installed at the £160m new cancer centre at Guy’s Hospital, marking another milestone in the development of the ground-breaking new facility.

The final radiotherapy machine was craned into place on the second floor on 12 March.

A crane and a canti deck platform into a second-floor window were used due to the weight of equipment. The total weight of each machine is 15 tonnes, with the biggest single piece delivered weighing in at 4.7 tonnes.

Kate Bradley, Guy’s and St Thomas’ commissioning manager for the new cancer centre, said: “It was quite a challenge to work out the details of delivering the heavy and complex equipment in through the second floor as nobody had done it before, but everything went to plan.”

The new centre at Guy’s is the first hospital in Europe to locate its radiotherapy treatment facilities above ground level. Normally they are located in basements in remote and lightless environments. But the new centre will transform the patient experience, giving patients having radiotherapy treatment access to naturally-lit waiting areas and a landscaped balcony.

The key design decision to locate the linear accelerators above ground was made following feedback from patients and cancer survivors who are part of the Patient Reference Group for the new facility.

The centre has been designed by architect, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and specialist healthcare architect, Stantec. Arup provided integrated design engineering services and the main contractor is Laing O’Rourke.

The centre is due to open to patients this autumn.

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