New state-of-the-art wing boards allow patients to lie more comfortably during lung cancer radiotherapy treatment

PATIENTS receiving radiotherapy for lung cancer and some other cancers in the chest and abdomen can now lie more comfortably and have their radiation doses given more accurately thanks to ten new wing boards funded by Weston Park Cancer Charity.

During radiotherapy, patients are asked to lie flat on a board, known as a wing board, throughout their treatment, with both arms raised over their head. To ensure radiation doses are given as accurately as possible, it is important that they lie in the same position throughout.

The state-of-the-art Klarity wing boards are specially designed and constructed to allow radiographers to position patients in readiness for treatment as accurately, comfortably and fuss-free as possible.

Janet Johnson, Pre-treatment Superintendent 2 Radiographer from the radiotherapy department at Weston Park Hospital, said: “This is an incredibly generous donation from the local community made possible thanks to the efforts of our fantastic team at Weston Park Cancer Charity. The Klarity wing boards are indexed with graduated measurements onto the radiotherapy couch, enabling accurate reproducibility of patient positioning for treatment and can be adjusted for individual patients’ comfort, all of which will play a key role in improving patients’ experience of care.”

Samantha Dixon, Director of Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide funding for the provision of the wing boards which will enable the hospital to deliver the latest complex radiotherapy techniques and also improve patient comfort. We rely on the generous support of the local community to fund our work and want to thank all our dedicated supporters for enabling this project to take place.”

Weston Park Hospital is home to one of the top radiotherapy departments in the UK, and Sheffield is ideally equipped to handle the 6,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed annually in the community of South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and North Derbyshire alone. On average, the department has nearly 60,000 patient visits every year.

The boards were funded by Weston Park Cancer Charity, which exists to create a better life for cancer patients and their families. Over the past twenty years the charity is proud to have funded a number of important enhancements to the radiotherapy department at Weston Park Hospital.

(Source from NHS Sheffield Teaching Hospitals: https://www.sth.nhs.uk/news/news?action=view&newsID=965  )