The creation of one of the first proton beam therapy cancer treatment centres to be built in England took a significant step forward today as work officially began on site. The centre, at the Earth Balance wellness site in Bomarsund, Northumberland, will be the second to be built by Proton Partners International in the UK and is expected to open in February 2018. The centre will be able to treat up to 500 patients every year and, in addition to proton beam therapy, will offer imaging, chemotherapy, traditional radiotherapy and well-being. Cllr Grant Davey, leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “It is fantastic to see work getting underway on this pioneering centre being developed in Northumberland. “To have this facility based in the county is a real coup. It will not only make this type of treatment available to the region and beyond, but also bring more skilled jobs to Northumberland.” Mike Moran, Chief Executive of Proton Partners International, said: “Today marks an important step in our plans to revolutionise cancer treatment across the UK. “Northumberland is the perfect location for our second centre– it is close to well-connected transport links and opens the door to proton beam therapy to prospective patients from the North of England and Scotland. “We have acquired the best technology available and our aim is that this area will evolve into a state of the art cancer treatment facility. The investment will also bring jobs, medical and administrative, to the area and will attract skilled individuals to the North East.” Karol Sikora, Chief Medical Officer of Proton Partners International, added: “There is a pressing need to bring this type of treatment to the UK as studies have shown that at least 10% of patients who receive traditional radiotherapy would be treated more effectively with protons. “By offering a variety of cancer therapies, our centres will deliver a fully comprehensive level of cancer care, tailored to fit the different needs of each patient – something which is not available in the UK at the moment.” There are currently no operational proton therapy facilities in the UK and the demand for more specialised cancer care is growing. Proton Partners are at the forefront of bringing proton beam therapy to the UK and are working with classleading providers which will equip the new centre to the highest specification. Proton Partners recently received £450,000 investment from regional growth fund programme, Let’s Grow North East, for its Northumberland cancer centre. All three Proton Partners centres will treat NHS patients, medicallyinsured private patients and self-paying patients.