Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) and Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) have reached a formal agreement on the provision of radiotherapy services at Milton Keynes University Hospital. The new Oxford University Hospitals Radiotherapy Centre @ Milton Keynes will be run by expert clinicians from Oxford University Hospitals. The new centre will be linked to the Milton Keynes Cancer Centre that opened in 2020.
Building of the Radiotherapy centre is well under way and is on track to be completed by summer 2024. There will then be a period of about six months when the specialist radiotherapy equipment will be installed and undergo rigorous commissioning tests. It is hoped that the first patients can be treated at the new centre by next winter.
The new Radiotherapy centre will make it much easier for cancer patients to receive life-saving treatment locally in Milton Keynes. Currently almost all patients from Milton Keynes and the surrounding area who need radiotherapy travel much further afield to Oxford and other places for their treatment.
This project strengthens Oxford University Hospitals’ partnership with Milton Keynes University Hospital which already includes OUH delivering renal services and some emergency cardiology in the city of Milton Keynes. The two trusts hope that their partnership allows the local population to have better access to specialist care closer to home.
Sara Randall, Chief Operating Officer at Oxford University Hospitals, said: “I am delighted that the Oxford University Hospitals Radiotherapy Centre @ Milton Keynes is now a step nearer – this follows many years of planning and hard work to get to this point.
“The difference this new facility will make to local cancer patients and their families is so important. The reduction in travel time means less stress and anxiety and more time to do other things. This brings quality care closer to home for our patients, which reflects our Trust values of compassion and excellence.”
Dr Ketan Shah, Head of Radiotherapy at Oxford Cancer Centre, said: “We are so pleased that we will be able to substantially reduce the need to travel while delivering radiotherapy care for patients from the Milton Keynes area. OUH Radiotherapy is about consistent, high quality, cutting-edge treatment, given with individual care – the same service but closer to home.”
Professor Joe Harrison, Chief Executive Officer at MKUH, said: “We are delighted to be working with Oxford University Hospitals to expand cancer services here at Milton Keynes University Hospital. We understand how important it is for our patients to be able to access the care they need within their local community, and our new Radiotherapy Centre is just another example of how we continue to strive to meet the health needs of our growing city.
“We are also grateful to Milton Keynes City Council for their continued support and investment in this new facility.”