Icon Group announces plans to reopen former Rutherford Cancer Centre in Bedlington
A mothballed cancer cancer in Northumberland is set to be brought back into use.
Icon Group has announced plans to reopen the former Rutherford Health facility in Bedlington.
It says the new Icon Cancer Centre Northumberland will bring world-class radiotherapy, systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) – including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy, imaging and consulting services - to patients across the North East and will have capacity to treat more than 500 patients a year.
Mark Middleton, Group CEO, Icon Group, said: “The number of people being diagnosed with cancer continues to rise, and there is a clear need to deliver the best cancer care possible, closer to home.
“Icon has a strong track record of investing responsibly in the UK to expand access to lifesaving cancer care, working in partnership with local health ecosystems in a way that genuinely supports local people.
“Healthcare infrastructure is a valuable community asset, and our focus is on ensuring that important cancer care facilities continue to serve the people who rely on them.
“This centre represents an opportunity to restore critical cancer infrastructure in the North East, ensuring we deliver sustainable, high-quality care for the community that depends on it.”
The centre has been designed to deliver high-quality, patient-centred cancer care, supported by the latest advanced technology and AI-enabled workflows that help clinicians plan and deliver more precise radiotherapy treatment.
With this infrastructure and technology, Icon will support personalised care for patients, including faster treatment planning, improved accuracy and, where clinically appropriate, fewer treatment sessions.
Dr Penny Kechagioglou, Chief Medical Officer, Icon UK, said: “Every patient is different, so our emphasis is on delivering care that is carefully coordinated, clinically led and centred on the individual.
“Radiotherapy is a vital part of cancer treatment but underutilised in the UK. Bringing these assets back online creates more access for cancer patients needing life-saving therapy.
“Every patient with cancer should have access to the right treatment at the right time and as close to home as possible. Bringing this centre back into use will help make that a reality for more people.”
The Group will also reopen former Rutherford Health centres in South Wales and Thames Valley. It builds on Icon’s acquisition of Cancer Centre London, now operating as Icon Cancer Centre London.