A life saving medical treatment has been used on a patient at the north-east’s flagship hospital for the very first time.
Friends of Anchor, which supports cancer patients and their families at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI), has funded the purchase of a specialist film dosimetry system for the hospital’s radiotherapy department.
The new technology, which cost £13,407, will allow doctors to potentially reduce the number of radiotherapy treatment sessions for early stage lung cancer patients by up to 85%.
By utilising a highly targeted treatment known as SABR, experts at the hospital will also be able to provide an alternative to surgery for patients who are too unwell to go under the knife.
The demand for SABR is currently so high in Aberdeen that patients have been referred to facilities hundreds of miles away in England.
But thanks to the Friends of Anchor the vital service will now be available in the north-east.
Dr John McLellan, head of radiotherapy physics at ARI, said: “Now, we can administer advanced radiotherapy to patients much closer to home with the comfort of their families nearby.
“Previously, patients have commonly had to travel to Leeds to receive the same treatment, which is not desirable as these patients are often too unwell for surgery, let alone able to travel down to England to receive advanced radiotherapy.”
Over the next year Dr McLellan and his colleagues will use the system on around 25 patients at ARI, with the potential for the service to be expanded as research into the revolutionary medical technology advances.
James Milne, the chairman of Friends of Anchor, said: “We are incredibly fortunate in Aberdeen to have leading medical professionals, such as Dr McLellan and his team, paving the way for improved treatment plans and support for patients in the north-east of Scotland.
“To have this specialist medical equipment on our door step is something to celebrate in terms of making our city a centre for leading cancer care and support.
“As a small charity that is not lottery or major grant funded, it is only thanks to our donors and supporters at Friends of Anchor that we can commit to funding for essential pieces of equipment like the film dosimetry system.”