Press release posted 7 September 2026
The Christie Charity, which supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, has today launched a landmark £42.5 million public fundraising appeal for a world leading scanning centre; helping to ensure cancer patients continue to receive world-class care in the heart of Manchester.
The new scanning centre will provide significantly more capacity for patients and their loved ones while affording The Christie more physical space to introduce the latest in imaging technology, including a new state-of-the-art scanner; one of the first of its kind in an NHS hospital.
To diagnose and treat cancer effectively, it is vital that clinicians and patients have access to the latest scanning technology. Advanced imaging allows doctors to better understand the full extent of a patient’s disease, plan treatment more precisely, monitor progress and improve outcomes.
Most patients treated at The Christie hospital will have multiple scans to diagnose cancer, monitor the growth of tumours, guide treatment decisions and assess how well a treatment is working.
However, demand for scanning has grown dramatically since The Christie’s current scanning department opened more than four decades ago when Pat Seed, a Lancashire-based journalist, set up the Pat Seed Appeal Fund.
After being diagnosed with cancer and given a prognosis of 6 months, Pat Seed’s initial aim was to fund a CT scanner for The Christie hospital at a cost of £500,000. When Pat discovered the hospital would need a purpose-build department to house it; Pat raised a further £1.75m in just three years.
Built in 1980 to accommodate around 20 patients a day, the Pat Seed Scanning Centre now supports more than 60 patients daily - with demand continuing to rise as the number of annual cancer diagnoses increases year-on-year.
Emma Seed, a clinical photographer and the granddaughter of Pat said: “It's incredible to see how much impact the Pat Seed scanning centre has had on patients at The Christie. My grandmother knew that having access to the latest technology could make a real difference to people with cancer, and she was determined to make that happen at the time.
“This new scanning centre feels like the next chapter of that story as the driving forces are exactly the same; bringing together the latest technology, world-leading expertise and the capacity to care for more patients.
“I know my grandmother would be proud to see her vision evolve, and I hope the people across Greater Manchester come together again to make this all possible.”
The new scanner will give clinicians an unprecedented view of a patient’s tumour by providing highly detailed images that show not only the exact location of a tumour, but how it moves within the body in real time. This will allow doctors to target therapy and minimise any damage to healthy cells surrounding the tumour.
For the first time, this new equipment will also enable clinicians to carry out surgical procedures while a patient is being scanned. By combining imaging and medical intervention in a single appointment, clinicians will be afforded a revolutionary level of precision, allowing them to target tumours more accurately than ever before and make instant treatment decisions whilst streamlining care for patients.
By improving precision and reducing damage to healthy tissue, a new scanning centre will help deliver kinder, gentler cancer care while enabling patients to live longer, fuller lives with the people they love.
Louise Hadley, Chief Executive Officer at The Christie Charity, said: “This is one of the most ambitious appeals in The Christie Charity’s history and one that has the potential to revolutionise cancer care at The Christie.
“The Christie has a global reputation for providing exceptional care, largely due to the selfless generosity of Christie Charity supporters. We need their support again to continue to provide world class cancer treatment right here in Manchester.
“Every day, thousands of patients depend on scanning to provide answers, guide treatment and offer reassurance at some of the most difficult periods in their lives. By supporting this appeal, our amazing supporters will be bringing us closer to laying that first brick on what will be one of the most efficient scanning centres in Europe. Together, we can give clinicians the facilities they need, and our patients the very best chance of living a life beyond cancer.”
Justine Carson, 43, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2023. Her treatment is closely monitored with scans every three months to assess how Justine is responding. She said: “I live my life in 3-monthly increments. I struggle to plan or even contemplate life beyond that. I cannot emphasise the importance of scanning enough. The time immediately after a good scan is as good as it gets; it’s the most confident I can ever feel about being alive.
“On the flip side, any delay or disruption to my scanning schedule has an immediate and devastating impact on my daily life. Not only do these scans guide my treatment; but psychologically they give me valuable reassurance and a feeling of control. When they’re delayed, the house of cards collapses, and my mental health takes a huge hit. We simply need more scanning capacity, and we can’t do it without the people of Greater Manchester coming together to shape the future of cancer care.”
Every contribution to The Christie Charity’s Scanning Centre Appeal will help bring the project closer to reality, giving patients access to faster, more advanced imaging and helping clinicians detect cancer earlier, plan treatment more precisely and improve outcomes for thousands of people every year.
To support The Christie Charity Scanning Centre Appeal, please go to our Help us build a new scanning centre page or ring 0161 446 3988.
The Christie Charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education, and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to cancer patients and their families.