Exciting new images have been released showing how the construction of Swindon's new £18 million radiotherapy centre at Great Western Hospital is progressing.

The works are supposed to be complete by spring and the centre will be fully open to patients later this year.

The centre is an expansion of Oxford University Hospital's radiotherapy service and, when opened, it will save cancer patients a 70-mile round trip to Oxford to have treatment.

The video taken from inside the centre shows a linear accelerator at work, a machine which is used for radiation treatment.

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Two of the pictures show the exterior of the entrance to the new building with glass windows and doors and brown panels fitted. Builders are currently laying the paving stones outside. 

It looks very similar to an artist's impression from 2020.

The team from Brighter Futures, who raised £2.9 million for the centre's new equipment, uploaded a video from their latest tour around the site.

They said: "We were delighted to have another visit. So much progress has been made inside the building since our last tour."

Brighter Futures, Great Western Hospital's charity, spent three-and-a-half years raising money to go towards the radiotherapy centre.

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Jason Dorsett, chief finance officer at OUH, said: “The construction of the Swindon radiotherapy centre is progressing well and is near completion this spring as planned.

"We are very grateful to everyone who has supported the Brighter Futures' Radiotherapy Appeal.

“The centre will save over 13,000 journeys to Oxford a year and reduce the anxiety, stress, and time spent travelling for our patients in Swindon and Wiltshire.”

Back in August 2020, work began on building the site. The contractor John Sisk and Sons expected the build to be completed by the end of 2021 and for the centre to be open to patients in early 2022.

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Staff celebrated the completion of the structural work in September with a topping out ceremony. The Adver joined senior figures from OUH, GWH, Brighter Futures and the contractor on-site to lay the final bricks. 

GWH chief executive Kevin McNamara said at the time: “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.

“This is the right size, taking into account what population growth looks like."

Dr Claire Hobbs, former Head of Radiotherapy at OUH and representing the service, said: "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.