Plymouth MPs welcome rollout of cutting-edge radiotherapy machines set to speed up cancer treatment

Plymouth residents will be among thousands of cancer patients across the UK set to benefit from the government’s £70 million investment in cutting-edge radiotherapy machines, an initiative designed to cut waiting times and deliver faster, more effective cancer treatment.

The new equipment, part of Labour’s Plan for Change, will allow hospitals to replace outdated machines that have caused delays in treatment due to frequent breakdowns. Across the country, this upgrade is expected to save up to 13,000 appointments from being lost to equipment failures and deliver up to 27,500 additional treatments annually by March 2027. Importantly, it will also help ensure that up to 4,500 patients receive their first cancer treatment within 62 days of referral, aligning with NHS targets.

Equipped with advanced imaging and precision targeting, the new machines will also mean fewer treatment rounds are required and that tumours, especially those in harder-to-treat areas like the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, can be targeted more safely, reducing harm to surrounding healthy tissue.

Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, hailed the news as a crucial step forward for local healthcare: “Too many families in Plymouth have faced anxious waits for cancer treatment; that’s why this investment from the government in cutting-edge radiotherapy machines is so important. It means quicker diagnoses, faster treatment, and better chances for recovery. For patients and their loved ones, that can make all the difference.

“I’m proud that our Labour government is not only delivering this breakthrough technology, but also securing the future of Derriford’s new emergency department – a vital project for Plymouth that the last government failed to fund. We are rebuilding trust in our NHS and putting patients first.”

His colleague, Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, agreed, and spoke of the impact on NHS performance and patient experience: “As a vocal campaigner for our NHS in Plymouth, I’m delighted that cancer patients here will benefit from safer and faster treatment because of this cutting-edge technology.

“We are replacing outdated equipment left behind by the last government, meaning cancer patients will need to make fewer hospital visits, helping to cut NHS waiting times. Working with Fred Thomas MP, I’m also proud to have secured the future of our new emergency department at Derriford, after the last government shockingly left its construction unfunded.”

The nationwide rollout is part of a broader NHS reform led by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, who has talked about the contrast between Labour’s current investments and the underinvestment seen in previous years.

“There is a revolution taking place in medical technology which can transform treatment for cancer patients. But NHS hospitals are forced to use outdated, malfunctioning equipment thanks to 14 years of underinvestment under the previous government.

“Thanks to the investment this government is making in our NHS, we will provide more cancer patients with world-class, cutting-edge care. By reducing the number of hospital visits required and preventing cancelled appointments, these state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines free up capacity so that thousands more patients are treated on time.”

Radiotherapy is one of the most important tools in the fight against cancer, with around one in four patients relying on it as part of their treatment. However, according to national audits and cancer charities, radiotherapy services have long suffered from chronic underfunding, staff shortages, and outdated infrastructure, particularly in regions outside London.

This latest move signals a renewed commitment by the government to modernise the NHS and tackle longstanding inequalities in cancer care across the country.

As the new machines are deployed across NHS trusts, including in Devon and Cornwall, patients and clinicians alike are hopeful that this marks a new era of faster, safer, and more equitable treatment.