THE work of a private cancer clinic in Newport, which is the only place in the UK where patients can get an effective new treatment - has been praised by a Gwent AM.

South Wales East's Mohammad Asghar visited the Rutherford Cancer Centre in the Celtic Springs Business Park, currently the only clinic in the UK where high energy proton beam therapy is available, last week.

Previously cancer patients had to travel to America for the treatment, which targets precise cells, leaving healthy tissue unharmed, unlike radiotherapy.

Conservative AM Mr Asghar said: “Services offered at the centre are available to NHS patients as well as insured private and fee paying patients. It was fascinating to hear how proton beam therapy can treat tumours without the damaging side effects of conventional radiotherapy.”

“I would like to thank Mike Moran, chief executive officer, and his team for their warm welcome and hospitality in facilitating this very enjoyable and informative visit.”

The first patient to undergo the treatment at the centre, 56-year-old

Simon Hardacre, 56, was the first patient to undergo the treatment at the centre earlier this year. He said it went "exceptionally well".

Every year more than 90,000 cancer patients in the UK are treated with radiotherapy, but Proton Partners International, which runs the Rutherford Clinic, believes around 10 per cent of these could be better treated with proton therapy.