Royal Surrey County Hospital has received an international quality mark for its stereotactic radiotherapy treatment.
The Trust is one of just a small number of centres in the UK to be Novalis Certified, which is a recognised standard for radiosurgery.
Stereotactic radiotherapy is a cutting edge technique that can be used on inoperable tumours and for patients not fit for an operation.
It is highly accurate and allows patients to receive a high dose of radiotherapy in 3-5 visits to the hospital, rather than 20 or 30 visits.
The machine works by precisely aiming radiotherapy beas at the tumour from a number of different directions around the patient’s body.
Novalis Certified is an independent accreditation program that promotes the delivery of stereotactic radiotherapy at a level of efficacy and safety commensurate with a high standard of clinical practice. The treatment at Royal Surrey County Hospital is currently being used for small primary lung tumours and tumours that have jumped from a primary cancer to a bone, lymph node, adrenal gland or the lung.
Upon becoming Novalis Certified, Royal Surrey joins a prestigious community of hospitals that have demonstrated the requisite clinical capabilities and standards for treatment delivery.
Clinical Oncologist Dr Veni Ezhil said: “We are delighted to have achieved Novalis certification.
“The certification demonstrates that St Luke’s Cancer Centre’s experienced clinicians are delivering both high-quality and safe radiotherapy.
