CONSTRUCTION • RESTORATION • FIT-OUT

Halcyon Varian System Colchester Hospital

The project

Brief

Colchester Hospital is upgrading its radiotherapy service to prepare for the Halcyon Varian system, a next generation radiotherapy technology designed to improve treatment efficiency, clinical accuracy and the overall patient experience. Rocare was appointed as an approved contractor for NHS Trusts, selected for our proven experience delivering complex healthcare infrastructure and high tech clinical upgrades, including previous Halcyon installations at Ipswich Hospital and Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

What we did

Rocare worked in close collaboration with the hospital team to prepare the radiotherapy environment for the installation of the Halcyon system and ensure it integrates smoothly with existing hospital systems and operational requirements. We applied our healthcare delivery standards across planning, coordination and on site management, drawing on our background in radiotherapy upgrades, ward refurbishments and specialist medical installations.

Key areas of focus included:

Preparing the treatment space to accommodate specialist equipment and associated infrastructure
Coordinating works to support the installation programme and reduce disruption to clinical operations where possible
Maintaining rigorous health and safety standards aligned with NHS expectations
Ensuring the upgraded facility supports both clinical performance and day to day operational flow

Result

The upgraded facility supports the introduction of the Halcyon system and the benefits it brings to cancer care, including improved speed, precision and patient comfort. Once operational, the system is expected to:

Reduce treatment times from around 15 minutes to approximately 8 to 10 minutes
Support precise tumour targeting through image guided radiotherapy
Provide a quieter, less claustrophobic experience with a more patient centred design
Improve efficiency through automated features and smoother workflows
Create a platform that supports future capability, including Adaptive Radiation Therapy

Overall, the project strengthens Colchester Hospital’s ability to deliver high quality, efficient oncology care and helps ensure patients across the region can access modern radiotherapy in a facility built to support it.