We are delighted to say on Tuesday 11th October the new Radiotherapy Centre opened to its first patients!
This much anticipated news comes after an incredible 3.5 years of local fundraising raising £2.9 million for key clinical equipment, and the success of securing a loan from the Department of Health. The £18 million project in partnership with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) will change our cancer services in Swindon and enable so many more local people to have their treatment closer to home.
Below is the timeline of progress during the construction phase of the project.
June 2022
Today we were invited to a small ribbon cutting ceremony at the new OUH Radiotherapy Centre at Swindon!
We are so grateful to everyone who shared their stories of having to travel to Oxford and to all of you who supported the fundraising in the most incredible way. Our local community is amazing, and we are so proud of the part that you have played in bringing Radiotherapy Services closer to home for patients diagnosed at Great Western Hospital.
June 2022
The new OUH Radiotherapy Centre @ Swindon has had an exciting delivery! Thanks to your generous support the Centre now has a CT Scanner!! This means that Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust patients having Radiotherapy in the Centre will also be able to have their planning appointment here in Swindon instead of in Oxford. We are so grateful to all the donors who are supporting Brighter Futures CT Scanner Appeal for this specialised planning scanner!
April 2022
Physicists are on site overseeing the 16 weeks commissioning process for the two linear accelerators. During this time they will put these machines though thousands of tests before they are operational. The attention to detail in incredible.
15th March 2022
The sign has gone up over the entrance of the OUH Radiotherapy Centre @ Swindon! Such an exciting moment. The site looks much less like a building site now with the external paving laid outside. Not long now before patients will be able to receive Radiotherapy treatment much closer to home!
10th February 2022
We got a first glimpse of one of the two linear accelerators being installed into the Radiotherapy Centre. The engineers are one site for several weeks setting up these amazing machines that will soon be delivering radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients diagnosed at Great Western Hospital.
1 December 2021
Real progress is being made on site. Exterior finishing is underway and some landscaping is due to start. With the scaffolding down you can really see the Radiotherapy Centre taking shape.
Monday 13th September 2021
Senior figures from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), Great Western Hospitals (GWH), John Sisk & Son Ltd and Brighter Futures met on-site for a socially distanced ceremonial event to mark the structural completion of the building. 
Everyone was shown around the bunkers where the linear accelerators that will deliver the radiotherapy treatment will be housed and the senior team were all given the opportunity to lay the final bricks to complete the structure. They we also all given a ceremonial trowel to mark the occasion.
Jason Dorsett, Chief Finance Officer at OUH, said: "The topping out ceremony gave us all the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the fantastic progress of the OUH Swindon Radiotherapy Centre.
"Laying the final bricks and seeing the roof in place marks another significant milestone in the development of this hugely important project that will benefit so many of our patients with cancer. I can't wait to visit again and see the completed project."
Dr Claire Hobbs, former Head of Radiotherapy at OUH and representing the service, said: "I was here for the ground-breaking in October 2020, and it has been wonderful to see the Centre take shape.
"The OUH Swindon Radiotherapy Centre is all about providing patients and their families a service closer to home that will not only enhance their care, but also reduce travel time and anxiety. I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you again to all the generous people and organisations that have made all this possible.
Kevin McNamara, Chief Executive at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Over the past few months we've seen the Radiotherapy Centre really begin to take shape on our site and it's great to reach this significant milestone in an ambitious project that will make a real difference to Swindon.
"This isn't just a development in a building programme, it's a really big step forward in bringing radiotherapy to Swindon and giving patients the great care they deserve much closer to home."
Lisa Utting, Fundraising and Volunteering Team Manager at Brighter Futures, said: "It really does feel amazing to have been part of the Radiotherapy fundraising appeal from the start of this journey in May 2015 and to see the roof be installed is just fantastic, it makes me feel so proud of what we have achieved as a team. 
"This means so much to me personally, to my family, and all the local people I have met along the way, who have tirelessly helped bring radiotherapy services to Swindon. We are so grateful to all of our supporters; we owe a massive thank you to every single one of them."
Ajaz Shafi, Managing Director, UK South, John Sisk & Son, said: "This is a significant milestone in the progress of the OUH Swindon Radiotherapy Centre. I am incredibly proud of the teams involved for the excellent work that’s been completed so far, which will benefit so many patients and their families while they undergo treatment.
"These patients will already be going through an incredibly difficult part of their lives, and it's a privilege to help make this new, hugely important Centre that will be able to bring them more comfort through enhanced treatment facilities and a shorter journey. It's a fantastic milestone to celebrate, and I look forward to the further progress to come."
Friday 11th June 2021
Its been a little while since we last did an update on the big build. Over the last two months the team on site have been focused on the external brickwork which is now up to roof level with the main roof membrane going on which will be finished in the next week. The team have now moved inside and the internal bunker mechanical and electrical works have started and the main ventilation ducting installed as well as the electrical bracketry and containment.
Tuesday 30th March 2021
Ever wondered what 320 double decker buses or two thirds of an Olympic sized swimming pool full of concrete would look like?....well that's how much concrete we have in our amazing Radiotherapy Centre bunkers. This concrete will keep our patients safe from the live saving radiation they will receive from the linear accelerators. The centre is really taking shape and the good weather ready helps with our photos!
Thursday 4th February 2021
In celebration of World Cancer Day we'd like to share with you an update from the Radiotherapy Centre site from behind the hoardings.
The first of the two bunker roof slabs have been poured using approximately 270m3 of high density reinforced concrete. The roof slabs are 1.6m deep, with additional thickenings over the isocentre.
This vast amount of concrete provides the radiation shielding to the patients using the facility. The engineering involved is extremely complex, and requires a high level of quality control.
Completing the bunker is a key project milestone. We are so excited to see how quickly the building is coming along!
Friday 27th November 2020
Over the last few weeks things have really picked up momentum on site, the linac bunker walls are up and the building steels are now in place. The building is starting to appear and its so exciting!
Friday 6th November 2020
Lots of activity this week. The bunker concrete walls are being filled and we've had two massive cranes on site this week. It might be a misty week but the John Sisk team are making great progress.
Thursday 22nd October 2020
It was an exciting day today celebrating the start of work on site with a mini spade in the ground event. We wish you all could have been there with us but sadly COVID prevented us from celebrating together, but when restrictions are lifted boy will there be a big party!
Tuesday 20th October 2020
Its been a really exciting day on site today. Early this morning the cement machine arrived to fill the linear accelerator bunker foundation slab.
Monday 12th October 2020
Lots of heavy machinery on site this week organising the sub station. It's been a real hive of activity. Check out the latest timelapse film on our facebook page!
Friday 2nd October 2020
Its been another busy week on site watching the substation and incoming services being set up. The rain hasnt affected play, its all go here!
Wednesday 23rd September 2020
Loads of activity this week on getting the compound ready at the Radiotherapy Centre site. Big machinery has been on site this week to move gravel and flatten the ground and get the foundations ready for the construction buildings. All very exciting!
Wednesday 9th September 2020
Lots of activity happening this week on the compound as well as planning for the connection of vital utility services needed for the site.
Friday 4th September 2020
Work on the compound has started this week. Its been wonderful hearing the noise of machinery and seeing lots construction staff on site milling around.
Monday 17th August 2020
Its been a grey old day today. Lots and lots of rain on site but all the hoardings are now up. From on the ground we won't be able to see what's happening behind the walls, but from our birds eye view we can't wait to see the work starting.....its going to be really exciting!
Monday 10th August 2020
Its been a day of excitment with John Sisk Contractors on site putting up the hoardings around the compound. Its the first time we've seen high vis jackets and machinery and its soooooo exciting!
Monday 3rd August 2020
The day has arrived!!!! Work begins onsite today and we are all so excited. Our Estates team have cleared the car park and temporary metal fencing has gone up to mark out the main site compound. A timelapse camera has been installed and we will be adding new images regulary to this page. Each month we will share with you a timelapse film of the progress made to date.
