Press Release (May, 19 2005)

European First for NHS Cancer Patients
Radiotherapy Facilities Constructed 17 Months Faster

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Middlesex today announced a European first for cancer treatment that will enable a new radiotherapy facility to be constructed up to 17 months faster than by traditional methods.

The specialist NHS cancer clinic has signed a contract with RAD Technology, a US company specialising in rapid deployment radiation facilities, for the construction and installation of five new radiotherapy treatment rooms. The process developed by RAD Technology is unique, providing patient ready treatment rooms up to 17 months earlier than traditional methods.

Commenting on the announcement Project Director, Kyle McClelland, of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said:
“RAD Technology’s proprietary modular shielding is the first of its kind. The company has developed a way of building, delivering and installing five complete turnkey radiation treatment rooms in seven months as opposed to the two years that a traditional build would take. This means these new facilities will be erected in the autumn of this year instead of spring 2007 if we’d gone with the usual method.

“The first RAD Technology treatment facility was installed at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona and is fabricated utilising steel and a combination of shielding materials instead of the concrete traditionally used to provide the required radiation shielding.”

Kyle McClelland continued;
“The five new RAD treatment rooms allow for the installation of the most modern treatment machines and a substantial increase in capacity. Previously these patients would have had to go elsewhere. This new and extremely innovative approach enables us to provide Cancer treatment faster than would otherwise have been possible and contributes significantly to our ability to deliver high quality, patient- focused care.”

RAD Technology’s treatment room modules are constructed in Canada by Canam Group (TSX - CAM.SV.A), one of North America’s largest fabricators of construction products and RAD’s strategic partner and fabricator.

Each treatment room will be erected at the Mount Vernon site in just five days and will house a pre-installed Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) linear accelerator providing radiation treatment on an outpatient basis.

This pioneering agreement between Mount Vernon and RAD Technology demonstrates the commitment of the NHS to fighting cancer related illness using radiotherapy treatment. Across 60 specialist cancer centres in the UK, radiotherapy is one of the most important treatments as it is non-invasive and provided on an outpatient basis.

The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre serves 5,000 new patients each year. One of the revolutionary features of the RAD Technology system is that all five treatment rooms are relocatable. With plans in place to relocate the entire cancer facility to Hatfield in Hertfordshire in 2012, the contract with RAD Technology provides for relocating the entire complex at the designated time. By using this unique product, the NHS will save millions by not having to ultimately replace the treatment rooms and avoiding an expensive demolition programme.

Kyle McClelland explained:
“RAD’s treatment rooms can each be installed in five days and easily moved with minimal disruption which means we can relocate and be patient ready in days instead of years. In addition, an ancillary building is being constructed alongside the treatment rooms to improve other clinical and staff facilities."

Commenting on the announcement John Ford, President CEO of RAD Technology LLC, said
“We have been working closely with The Trust to create a truly unique solution for the Mount Vernon Radiotherapy Expansion Project. In addition to providing a facility that will be patient ready significantly ahead of schedule, we have created a leasing structure whereby these new treatment facilities are not carried as assets on the Trust’s balance sheet.“

We see this project as best practice in the provision of fast patient care and revenue generation for cancer treatment by the NHS and are excited to be working with the world renowned Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to bring this process to Europe for the first time.”

RAD Technology and The Trust worked closely with a consortium of experts to tailor delivery, design and finance of the Modular Radiotherapy Treatment Facilities to the specific needs of Mount Vernon’s Radiotherapy Expansion Project. The team included:

Forfurther information, images and spokespeople that will provide construction, therapeutic and NHS perspectives please contact Cohn Wolfe PR.

Jo Swift
Cohn Wolfe
jo_swift@uk.cohnwolfe.com
02007 331 5476
07811 200716

About RAD Technology
RAD Technology is a revolutionary provider of turnkey, rapid deployment and relocatable high-energy radiation containment systems for cancer treatment facilities and other medical, industrial and security applications. The RAD Technology system has met the radiation standards of Canada, the United Kingdom and The United States.

RAD Technology’s modular radiation facilities are manufactured by their strategic partner and fabricator, Canam Group. With over 40 years of experience, $825 million in sales, 3,000 employees and 13 major plants around the world, Canam Group provides the strength to ensure the high quality and rapid deployment of RAD Technology systems.
www.rad-technology.com

About Mount Vernon Cancer Centre
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) provides cancer care to patients across South Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, South Buckinghamshire, East Berkshire and North West London; A population of almost 2 million. Following reviews of the service and the approval of the Strategic Health Authority initiative “Investing In Your Health”, it was agreed that the Cancer Centre needed to be located closer to the centre of its main population base, in other words, in Southern Hertfordshire. Investing In Your Health identifies the future location of the Cancer Centre at Hatfield, where a major new district general hospital is to be built, along with the new Cancer Centre.

Management of the Cancer Centre and of this Project has been the responsibility of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. However the future strategic relocation of the service to Hatfield has indicated a change in management reporting and as of 4^th April 2005, the East North Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust has taken ownership of the Cancer Centre.

www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk

back to top