Name announced for Northumberland proton beam cancer centre

The Rutherford Cancer Centres, from 2018, will be the first in the UK to offer high energy proton beam therapy Credit: Artists impression

A new state of the art cancer centre being built in Northumberland has announced it will be named after a renowned scientist.

Work has started on the Rutherford Cancer centre, which will open next year in West Sleekburn Farm, Bedlington, and is named after Ernest Rutherford who identified the proton.

The Rutherford Cancer Centres, from 2018, will be the first in the UK to offer high energy proton beam therapy.

The oncology centres have been named to reflect the renowned scientist Ernest Rutherford’s contribution in identifying and naming the proton in 1911.

Treatment at The Rutherford Cancer Centres will be available to medically-insured private patients, self-paying patients and patients referred by the NHS.