A pioneering cancer centre that delivers life-saving treatments to patients in the North East is set to close just three years after it officially opened, unless a buyer can be found.
The Rutherford Cancer Centre at Bomarsund, which offers cutting edge proton beam therapy as well as conventional cancer treatments including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, could shut as soon as Thursday evening as the business behind it is set to be liquidated.
Bosses at the group that runs the Bedlington centre - as well as several others across the country - said Covid meant fewer patients used its centre and that it had not secured sufficient NHS contracts.
The firm said 280 staff at its centres have been informed and arrangements are being made to transfer patients to alternative facilities, including a "small number" of locally commissioned NHS patients being returned to their local NHS Trust to finish their treatment.
In an effort to turn around its position, Rutherford also said it had tried to offer the NHS a not-for-profit national contract that was ultimately not taken up.
Sean Sullivan, chief restructuring officer and interim CEO at Rutherford Health, said: “Rutherford Health has been committed to providing high quality care, and the past couple of years has proven to be an extremely challenging time for the business.
“Covid has been particularly damaging for us as fewer patients were presenting with side effects during the lockdowns, and as a result cancer diagnosis has been delayed and sadly, in many cases, missed. This has meant fewer cancer patients have been presenting to our centres.
“Added to that, the business had grown rapidly over recent years. It was a very expensive business to set up, with over £240 million of capital expenditure to build and develop the cancer centres across the country, however, unfortunately patient numbers have not matched that.
“We made several offers to the NHS, and whilst we secured some contracts they were insufficient and we have not been able to secure mechanisms to expedite process. This added to severe financial pressures on the business and we had no option other than to place the Group into liquidation.
“We are very proud to have been able to serve the community and cancer patients across the country."
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