Lincolnshire hospital installs new radiotherapy machine for cancer

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 19:50 · Archive

Lincoln County Hospital has installed a Halcyon linear accelerator for faster radiotherapy treatment of cancer patients.

Lincoln County Hospital has installed a new Halcyon linear accelerator to deliver external beam radiotherapy for cancer patients. The machine allows quicker treatment and higher-quality imaging compared to previous methods, using high-energy X-rays or electrons to destroy cancer cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

The equipment is being initially used by patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. John Ralph, a 77-year-old retired accountant from Spalding, was the first patient to undergo radiotherapy using the new device. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer nine years ago and required treatment after his condition progressed. Ralph said the treatment was quick, lasting only ten to fifteen minutes, and that he felt nothing during the procedure. He praised the hospital team as 'very helpful and attentive'.

Ralph advocated for men to have PSA tests to check their prostate health, saying he would not have known he was ill without one. Another patient, 68-year-old Paul Gleadle, a retired serviceman and HGV driver, also received treatment through the machine after deciding to have a PSA blood test in January 2025.

How it is being reported

• Lincolnshire cancer patients benefit from faster radiotherapy treatmentCancer patients in Lincolnshire can now benefit from a new radiotherapy treatment machine that can help save lives.Lincolnshire World · 16 Oct, 18:20
• New 'life-saving' machine at Lincolnshire hospital helping cancer patientsThe Halcyon linear accelerator has been installed at Lincoln County HospitalLincolnshire Live · 16 Oct, 10:56

In this story: Lincoln County Hospital · United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · John Ralph · Spalding · Paul Gleadle

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