Department of Health purchases 20 new radiotherapy machines

A 30 million pound deal has been agreed by the government to purchase 20 new radiotherapy machines, ensuring NHS cancer patients will benefit from the latest advances in care quality.

The Department of Health has invested in state-of-the-art machines capable of delivering both standard radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, which can target the tumour more precisely and is useful for treating head and neck cancers.

It is the biggest deal the Department of Health has ever struck for NHS equipment and represents a three million pound saving compared to the price hospitals would have paid to purchase each unit individually.

Health minister Lord Howe said: "This deal means patients will get first-class cancer care, but it is also a great bit of business. It is a fantastic example of how the NHS can use its size and bulk-buying power to save money."

This comes as part of the government's new NHS procurement strategy announced earlier this month, which aims to deliver savings of 1.5 billion pounds for the NHS by cutting down on unnecessary bureaucracy and overspending.