HCA Healthcare UK invests £15million to introduce advanced MR-guided radiotherapy with Elekta Unity MR Linac at The Harley Street Clinic

The MR-Linac combines a high resolution MRI scanner with a linear accelerator, enabling clinicians to visualise tumours in real time while delivering radiotherapy. This approach, known as MR-guided and adaptive radiotherapy, allows treatment to be precisely targeted, even as tumours move or change shape during a treatment session.

The technology is particularly beneficial for cancers in areas of the body that are subject to movement during a treatment, such as prostate and central lung tumours. By continuously tracking tumour motion and adapting treatment accordingly, clinicians can deliver higher radiation doses with increased accuracy. This may reduce the number of treatment sessions required for some patients while protecting surrounding healthy tissue.

The acquisition of this state-of-the-art image-guided radiotherapy represents a significant investment of £15million for HCA UK and marks the organisation’s first MR-Linac system globally. The Harley Street Clinic becomes one of only a small number of providers in London to offer this advanced form of radiotherapy.

Treatment will be delivered by HCA UK’s multidisciplinary cancer team, including consultant clinical oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists and radiographers, who work together on treatment planning and delivery. The service will be led by dedicated MR-Linac consultant, Dr Elena Moreno Olmedo, an expert in MR guided radiotherapy. Dr Moreno Olmedo will oversee treatment sessions, working closely with the wider team to adapt each patient’s radiotherapy plan in real time to ensure optimal precision.

The introduction of the technology coincides with HCA UK joining the international Elekta MR-Linac Consortium, a global collaboration of leading centres focused on advancing evidence-based use of MR-guided radiotherapy. The consortium aims to optimise treatment approaches, improve tumour control and survival outcomes, and enhance patient quality of life through ongoing research and shared clinical expertise.

This latest addition further strengthens HCA UK’s commitment to offering innovative cancer treatments and expanding access to cutting edge technologies for patients in the UK.

Dr John Conibear, Clinical Oncologist and Radiotherapy Lead Clinician at HCA UK, said:

“MR-guided radiotherapy represents a significant advancement in how we deliver precision cancer treatment. The ability to see and respond to tumour motion in real time allows us to treat with greater accuracy and confidence, particularly for tumours that have traditionally been challenging to target. Ultimately, this means we can deliver highly personalised care with the potential for improved outcomes and fewer treatment sessions for patients.”

William Pressley, CEO at The Harley Street Clinic, said:

“We’re proud to be one of the first independent hospitals in London to offer advanced radiotherapy with the use of the MR-Linac at The Harley Street Clinic. The introduction of this technology reflects our continued investment in advanced cancer care and our commitment to providing patients with access to the latest treatment innovations. This technology enables our expert teams to deliver highly precise, adaptive radiotherapy, reinforcing our position as a leading centre for complex cancer treatment.”

 

For more information on MR-Linac Radiotherapy at HCA UK’s The Harley Street Clinic, visit here