THE development of a satellite radiotherapy unit at Nevill Hall Hospital - also earmarked as the site for a local cancer centre - has been described as a “unique opportunity” for Gwent.

The hospital in Abergavenny was identified during the summer as the preferred site for a satellite radiotherapy unit, to complement work done at Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Centre, increasing capacity and enabling many patients to receive treatment closer to home.

An outline business case for the project is currently being drawn up, which will go the Welsh Government for funding approval.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is looking at Nevill Hall too, as a base for a local cancer centre, to provide specialist care and support for patients in Gwent.

The satellite radiotherapy unit is a project propose for south Wales for the best part of a decade, but this and the local cancer centre remain in the early stages in terms of planning, and are subject to funding being secured.

Both are priorities too, for the health board as it continues to develop its cancer services.

“This is a unique opportunity in terms of looking at what cancer services do and how they sit in a health board and a regional context,” said Dr Ian Williamson, the health board’s lead on cancer services.

The health board set up a Transforming Cancer Services delivery group last year, which oversaw the bid - along with Velindre Cancer Centre and the Welsh Government - to host a satellite radiotherapy unit in the area.

Dr Williamson has also compiled the health board’s annual report on its cancer services, highlighting progress and plans for the future.

Increasing incidence of cancer is a key challenge, along with tackling varying survival rates for different cancers, and meeting the growing demand for diagnostic services.

A single 62-day ‘pathway’ to cancer treatment is likely to be introduced in Wales in the near future, replacing the current 31- and 62-day treatment targets.

The threshold for suspicion of cancer is also set to be lowered, and Dr Williamson warned that diagnostic capacity will need to increase considerably to deal with a consequent rise in demand.