Icon Group has announced plans to operate a purpose-built cancer centre in Newport, expanding regional oncology capacity in an area where demand for cancer services continues to grow. The multi-million-pound investment will bring the Rutherford Health facility back into operation, with capacity to support NHS systems and reduce travel burdens for private patients, thus strengthening regional radiotherapy and oncology services. Reopening the centre, located at Celtic Springs, Coedkernew, Newport, will serve a general population catchment of around 1.4 million people across South Wales.
Rising cancer demand and the need for local services
Across the UK, one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer, and around half of all cancer patients are expected to require radiotherapy as part of their treatment. In Wales, the latest official cancer incidence data shows there were 21,006 new cancer cases in 2022, higher than the pre-pandemic annual average of 20,472 cases. The group will also reopen former Rutherford Health centres in Northumberland and Thames Valley as part of its commitment to bringing cancer care closer to home across the UK.
Investing in care and community
The Icon Cancer Centre South Wales will bring world-class radiotherapy, systemic anti-cancer therapy – including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy, imaging and consulting services to patients across South Wales and will have capacity to treat more than 500 patients a year. These services will be delivered by a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of up to 30 professionals across radiotherapy, radiography, medical physics, oncology nursing, pharmacy and administration, drawing on Icon’s global workforce as well as creating opportunities for those in the region.
Mark Middleton, group chief executive at Icon Group, said: "The number of people being diagnosed with cancer continues to rise and there is a clear need to deliver the best cancer care possible, closer to home. Icon has a strong track record of investing responsibly in the UK to expand access to lifesaving cancer care, working in partnership with local health ecosystems in a way that genuinely supports local people. Healthcare infrastructure is a valuable community asset, and our focus is on ensuring that important cancer care facilities continue to serve the people who rely on them. This centre represents an opportunity to restore critical cancer infrastructure in Newport, ensuring we deliver sustainable, high-quality care for the community that depends on it."
Increasing access to world-class treatment
The centre has been designed to deliver high-quality, patient-centred cancer care, supported by the latest advanced technology and AI-enabled workflows that help clinicians plan and deliver more precise radiotherapy treatment. With this infrastructure and technology, Icon will support personalised care for patients, including faster treatment planning, improved accuracy and, where clinically appropriate, fewer treatment sessions.
Dr Penny Kechagioglou, chief medical officer at Icon UK, commented: "Every patient is different, so our emphasis is on delivering care that is carefully coordinated, clinically led and centred on the individual. Radiotherapy is a vital part of cancer treatment but underutilised in the UK. Bringing these assets back online creates more access for cancer patients needing life-saving therapy. Every patient with cancer should have access to the right treatment at the right time and as close to home as possible. Bringing this centre back into use will help make that a reality for more people."
Reopening the three Rutherford Health facilities builds on Icon’s acquisition of Cancer Centre London, now operating as Icon Cancer Centre London. The group is also progressing new centres in Brighton, Derbyshire and Warwickshire, alongside a proposed centre in Leeds as part of a wider health initiative at AMT Headingley Stadium. CBRE advised on this agreement.
