New £109m cancer centre delayed

The cost of the delay is expected to be borne by the PFI contractor

The opening of a £109m state-of-the-art cancer centre in Oxfordshire has been delayed until next year.

The Oxford Cancer Centre had been due to open on 6 November, but an over-run of technical works means it will now open in January 2009 at the earliest.

The new centre will join cancer services based at the Radcliffe Infirmary, John Radcliffe Hospitals, and the Churchill Hospital site.

The new facility will also include 10 new operating theatres.

It will be managed through a private finance initiative, which is expected to bear the cost of the delay.

Essential tests

Vickie Holcroft, director of relocation at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, said: "Staff have been working extremely hard preparing for the move, which we had hoped to start within the next few weeks.

"This is not now possible as a number of essential tests of the internal systems and highly specialised clinical equipment have not yet been completed by the construction company.

"Although disappointed at this delay, the trust will not accept the transfer of the new building until these tests are complete.

"We can reassure our patients that they will continue to be seen and treated exactly as at present, until the centre opens in the New Year."

Services at the centre will include additional medical and surgical beds for cancer patients, a new radiology department, linear accelerators for radiotherapy, plus 12 additional places for chemotherapy patients.

Also, it will house physiotherapy services, a high dependency unit and a private patients' unit.