Work on the Lanarkshire Beatson, a £22m radiotherapy centre for the West of Scotland, is underway.
To celebrate the start of construction, Cabinet Secretary for Health Alex Neil was invited to a groundbreaking ceremony at the site.

Speaking about the ceremony Cabinet Secretary for Health Alex Neil said: “I am delighted to cut the first sod on the site of this £22 million radiotherapy facility for people in the West of Scotland. Today is about marking that work is beginning on site and this vital service is moving closer to being delivered.

“We know that going through treatment for cancer can be an extremely difficult time for patients and their families. That is why the Scottish Government is determined to see more patients treated in modern facilities – like this state-of-the-art radiotherapy centre.”

Operating as a satellite of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow, the new centre is expected to be operational by the end of 2015.

Neena Mahal, chair of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This is an exciting development that will offer excellent premises for patients from across Lanarkshire and the west of Scotland.

“The Lanarkshire Beatson will be equipped with the most advanced technology and equipment to deliver the same world-class treatment currently provided at the Glasgow centre.

“Monklands Hospital is already NHS Lanarkshire’s identified cancer centre where we host a number of cancer services. The new Lanarkshire Maggie’s Centre is also located on the site. The radiotherapy satellite centre will be a very welcome addition.”

The centre will include two state-of-the-art linear accelerators, which deliver high-energy radiation to shrink tumours and kill cancer cells, with expansion space for a third machine, if required. It will also have a CT simulator to help plan radiotherapy treatment. This will enable around 80 patients a day who require radiotherapy for lung, breast, prostate and rectal cancers to be treated.

Janette Fraser, project director, said: “I am delighted that construction work is now underway to create this important and much needed facility.

“A great deal of work has already been carried out by the project board to finalise the design and layout of the facility. It is great to see those plans come to fruition and it is very exciting to think that in around 18 months time the new centre should be treating patients.”