THE North-East’s £100m cancer treatment centre has been officially unveiled.

The Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC), at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, replaces the Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment, at Newcastle General Hospital.

It is the only centre in the country that has the full range of the latest radiotherapy equipment, including the country’s first Primatom machine, which enables tumours to be treated to the highest speed and accuracy.

The centre, which will carry out more than 100,000 treatments a year, also has one of only two Tomotherapy machine in the NHS, which enables the treatment of cancers that could not previously be treated with radiotherapy.

The centre also offers specialist services including Continuous Hyper-fractionated, Accelerated Radiotherapy Treatment, for some lung cancers, and is a leading centre for treating thyroid, paediatric and rare skin cancers.

Sir Leonard Fenwick, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are extremely proud of the centre, which is modern and contemporary but has the ambience, environment and feeling of care throughout.

“NCCC incorporates a major research facility as well as having one of the shortest waiting times for treatment in the UK.

“With 16 highly-experienced, multi-disciplinary teams we have the expertise to treat some of the rarest and most complex cancers in the best possible surroundings.”

Clinical director Dr Tony Branson said: “Our new generation of radiotherapy treatment machines mean the treatment time, defined by the length of time a patient spends in the room having radiotherapy, is reduced significantly.

“For example, treatment time for a patient receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer is now about four minutes, rather than the 11 it was previously.”

NCCC is home to the 30- year-old Charlie Bear for Cancer Care Charitable Fund, one of the North East’s best-loved charities. It has raised millions of pounds to provide comfort and care for patients.

Charity chairwoman Christine McGreal said: “Charlie Bear is an integral part of NCCC, helping to provide additional patient comforts, sophisticated equipment, specialist training for staff and funding for local cancer research projects.”

Darlington schoolboy Lewis Harbron, ten, who has undergone treatment for a brain tumour at Newcastle General, attended the launch.

The youngster was given a Charlie Bear mascot at the end of his treatment and it has become his constant companion, visiting Disneyworld and an England football match at Wembley.

His mother, Jackie, said: “Lewis was so well looked after by all the staff during his treatment. Everyone involved with Charlie Bear was so supportive and helpful that Lewis really wanted to be able to do something in return.

“When they gave him his Charlie Bear as a present, he decided he would take it everywhere he went.’’