Bringing protons to Manchester

Plans are being developed to bring the UK's first proton beam therapy service to Manchester with The Christie leading a partnership of local trusts which includes Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

In March 2010, the Manchester team was one of eight groups to submit plans to the Department of Health to deliver a national proton beam therapy service. The Manchester proposal has been selected as one of the first two providers alongside University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation. A third site at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is also being considered. All three sites are working closely with the DH on the business case to develop proton beam therapy in the UK.

The Manchester proposal

To ensure the very best patient care, the principle of integrating care and the provision of support services is at the heart of our design process. This involves integrating the provision of proton beam therapy with X-ray therapy. Other supporting services will be fully integrated into the patient pathway too.

The proton beam therapy centre will be based at the main Christie hospital site in Withington. As it will be a national service, other elements of treatment and support will be delivered locally in patients' referring hospitals.

For Manchester-based patients, other parts of the pathway will be provided by our partners Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. These trusts will provide surgical, oncological and other supporting services where these are an integral part of the proton service.