Proton Therapy Congress 2016

Proton therapy in the UK: The Newport clinic 

Dr Jamie Powell - Proton Partners International, Newport, UK

Could you tell us about the Newport proton centre?

The proton centre is the first one in the UK and it’s based in Newport on the Celtic Springs Business Park and it will treat 750 patients a year with proton beam therapy and also offer conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. At the moment we are halfway through the construction of the proton vault which is a giant concrete structure which we have added to the end of the existing clinic and the refurbishment of the inside of the clinic has continued alongside, which will be completed next month. We will be able to offer chemotherapy services next month, in October, conventional radiotherapy will be available from January and then proton therapy towards the end of next year.

Are there currently any collaborations with your centre and elsewhere?

We are in discussions currently with NHS Wales and our aim is to work in collaboration with Wales NHS from the very outset so that we can make sure that we’ve got the skills in Wales to be the first proton centre in the UK. It’s a very exciting time.

How do you see proton therapy progressing with new technology?

I think protons is the first challenge, so we will get our centres open and delivering proton therapy and then we’ve got a very strong medical team and we will be looking at what the future might bring.

What are your thoughts on the UK being a part of the international proton therapy scene?

It’s an exciting time for the UK with the two NHS centres being developed and alongside the Proton Partners’ centres it’ll be a time where the UK skills increase and improve in the whole of the proton therapy landscape. We will be able to build links with the rest of the world to make sure that we’ve got the skills ready to deliver protons next year.