Shinfield cancer centre set to close after company folds

RUTHERFORD Cancer Centre Thames Valley is set to close after its parent company announced it would be going into liquidation.

Rutherford Health group revealed on Monday, May

June 6, that the decision was taken due to a “critical lack of patient volume” and “cost of infrastructure”.

An application will be made later this week to appoint a liquidator.

Staff were informed beforehand, with arrangements being made to transfer existing patients to alternative facilities.

Sean Sullivan, Chief Restructuring Officer and Interim CEO, said: “Covid has been particularly damaging for us as fewer patients were presenting with side effects during the lockdowns.”

“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.”

Since 2015, Rutherford Health has built a network of oncology centres in South Wales, Northumberland, Liverpool and their base in Shinfield.

Their facilities offered a range of advanced cancer treatments including high energy proton beam therapy, radiography and chemotherapy.

“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,” Mr Sullivan explained.

“Unfortunately patient numbers have not matched that.”

According to Rutherford Health, a not-for-profit contract was offered to the NHS in an attempt to increase patient flow, but the offer was not taken up.

“We made several offers to the NHS, and while we secured some contracts they were insufficient and we have not been able to secure mechanisms to expedite process,” Mr Sullivan said.

“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.”