The Christie today welcomes plans unveiled by the Health Secretary to invest up to £150million in procuring a new cutting-edge 'proton beam therapy' radiotherapy cancer service.

At a speech to the Britain Against Cancer Conference this afternoon, Andrew Lansley will announce that up to 1,500 patients a year would benefit from the establishment of a new National Proton Beam Therapy Service.

The Christie has been selected by the Department of Health as one of three potential providers of the service, alongside University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. A business case needs to be completed before the final number of facilities is determined.

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiotherapy, which uses a precision high-energy beam of particles to destroy cancer cells.

The treatment is particularly suitable for complex childhood cancers. Proton beam therapy increases success rates and reduces side-effects, such as deafness, loss of IQ and secondary cancers. At present, people in need of proton beam therapy are sent abroad - either to Switzerland or the USA. However, for many patients with cancer, travelling abroad is inappropriate (because they require other treatments) and/or an additional worry.

Christie Chief Executive Caroline Shaw said: "We welcome Andrew Lansley's announcement that the Government plans to invest in proton beam therapy.  We are committed to offering patients the best possible treatments and this new service will help save more lives, particularly children, teenagers and young adults with cancer.  The Christie and Manchester team is now looking forward to working with the Department of Health to complete their business case."

Christie consultant and clinical lead for proton therapy Nick Slevin added: "This announcement is great news, and will bring this treatment closer to patients who currently have to travel abroad to receive it. For a specific range of cancers, the advantages of proton beam therapy over conventional radiotherapy are now unquestionable.  Proton beam therapy can very precisely target the cancer.  This means that normal tissues receive very little radiation, so there are both fewer side-effects, and - as the dose to the cancer can be increased - a better chance of cure."

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