Head and neck cancer patients living in and around Eastbourne can now receive radiotherapy treatment in their local community, thanks to a new service at Eastbourne Radiotherapy Treatment Unit (ERTU).
Launched by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, the first head and neck patients were welcomed through the doors on Monday 6 July 2026.
The highly specialised treatment pathway is being delivered by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, nursing and allied health professionals, focussed on maintaining patient’s wellbeing and aiding recovery.
This coordinated approach ensures patients can access expert, joined-up care closer to home – a clear example of the Trust’s strategy in action and the ambitions of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan.
Dr Angus Robinson, Radiotherapy Lead at University Hospitals Sussex, said:
“This represents a significant milestone for cancer care in Sussex. Head and neck radiotherapy can be a demanding treatment, often requiring regular support to manage side effects and maintain wellbeing.
“The specialist team at the Eastbourne Radiotherapy Treatment Unit will provide expert, personalised care locally for people living in and around Eastbourne. By monitoring patients closely and responding quickly to concerns, the team can help improve both experience and treatment outcomes.
“Accessing care locally also means patients can spend less time travelling and more time with the family, friends and support networks that are so important during a cancer journey.”
Malcolm Baulch, a mouth cancer patient from Bexhill who will be among the first head and neck patients treated at the centre, described the relief of being able to access treatment closer to home during an already worrying time:
“For my wife, being told I had cancer was hard enough, but the thought of driving me to Brighton and back for daily treatment put enormous pressure on her.
“When the doctor told us we could transfer to a radiotherapy service in Eastbourne, my wife burst into tears. Having treatment locally will make the world of difference as we can get there in under an hour, without the stress or expense of a long journey. It’s also much easier to get help from friends and neighbours if we need it.
“I’ve already visited the centre to prepare for treatment, and everyone has been so friendly, thoughtful, and kind. I feel completely reassured.
“At our stage of life, having treatment closer to home is a real godsend, and we feel so grateful.”
While this new service focuses on head and neck cancers, University Hospitals Sussex is committed to improving care for everyone in Sussex.
On 22 May 2026, the foundation stone was laid for the new Sussex Cancer Centre in Brighton, a state-of-the-art facility due to open for patients across the county by 2029.
Dr Sarah Westwell, Medical Director for Cancer at the Trust, said: “The new Sussex Cancer Centre is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the way we look after people with cancer from across the county.
“We will be able to see more patients more quickly, offer a wider range of treatments locally, develop research and new treatments, and welcome our patients to a lovely building designed with them in mind. We can barely wait.”