Our Radiotherapy Department comprises of 4 Truebeam Linear Accelerators, which are used to treat and control cancer cells.
Additionally, our department offers Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy) and Superficial Skin treatments.
A course of radiotherapy can range from a single treatment to several treatments daily over a number of weeks.
Most patients attend for radiotherapy as outpatients.
When can I expect treatment after I have had my planning CT scan appointment?
If can take a few weeks from your planning scan to your first treatment appointment, this is due to the fact the plan must go through many areas of our department to be planned, checked, and approved before being input ready for your treatment.
How long will the CT scan take?
The CT scan itself will take around 5 minutes, the longest time is spent with us in the room taking measurements and choosing equipment to suit you, we have many different types of equipment to make it slightly more comfortable for you, so just let us know if anything doesn’t feel quite right, it is much more difficult to add equipment after you have had your CT planning scan as everything is planned from you position that day.
How long will my treatment take?
Appointment times will range between 15-30 minutes, but like the CT scan, most of the time is spent with us in the room moving you into the correct position and taking measurements. When we leave the room, we have cameras and a microphone in the room, so if you need us to come back and stop the treatment just wave your hand. The treatment itself will take approximately 5-10 minutes.
What if the Hovercraft is not running?
The Daisy Bus will change pick up location to The Hard Interchange (PO1 3DT) to collect patients travelling on Wightlink Fast Cat, please contact the bookings team if there are further issues.
Transport
If you need assistance with travelling to your appointments, please ask friends and family in the first instance for help with this.
We have a hospital transport service, but please be aware that there is a strict eligibility criterion. To find out if you are eligible, go to SCAS.
If you are successful in being offered hospital transport, please notify the Radiotherapy bookings team ASAP on 02392 283274.
Please allow a minimum of 90 minutes from your appointment time when booking a return journey
Parking
Park in either of the Multi-Story Cark Parks and make your way to the department, when you arrive for your first appointment in our department, we can organise a parking permit to minimise your parking charges, just ask a member of staff. Find out more about parking on site here: Parking :: Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Isle of Wight Patients
You will receive a letter in the post with information on getting over to Portsmouth and using the Daisy Bus. Please note that the Daisy Bus is a free transport service provided by Wessex Cancer Support and has limited seating. The daisy bus runs Monday to Friday, a copy of the timetable is below:
Referrals are made via other specialties within Queen Alexandra Hospital, St. Richard’s Hospital in Chichester and St. Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight