22 September 2026

The Velindre @ Nevill Hall Radiotherapy Unit in Abergavenny is celebrating a successful first year of delivering specialist cancer treatment closer to home for hundreds of people across south-east Wales.

The milestone reflects Velindre Cancer Service's ongoing commitment to delivering world-class cancer care closer to home, ensuring more patients can access timely treatment in their local communities while benefiting from the highest standards of specialist care.

The £38 million facility was developed in partnership with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board as part of Velindre's Integrated Radiotherapy Solution (IRS) programme. Fully operated and staffed by Velindre's teams, it has significantly increased radiotherapy capacity across the region.

Over the past 12 months, the Unit has delivered 577 Computed Tomography (CT) scanning appointments and recorded 5,988 patient attendances, including 5,411 appointments for radiotherapy treatment alone. The service has also helped save patients and families more than 3,000 miles of travel.

 

Carl James, Chief Executive of Velindre University NHS Trust, said:

"The success of the Velindre @ Nevill Hall Radiotherapy Unit demonstrates the power of partnership in transforming services for patients. I would like to thank colleagues from Velindre University NHS Trust, Aneurin Bevan, Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Powys Health Boards whose commitment and expertise have helped make this service such a success.

"As demand for cancer services continues to grow, our ability to provide services close to home is vital in increasing access for patients to highly specialist care across the region to improve outcome and experience."

 

Nicola Prygodzicz, Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said:

“The success of the Velindre @ Nevill Hall Radiotherapy Unit over its first year is something everyone involved can be incredibly proud of. This facility was created through a strong partnership between Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Velindre University NHS Trust, with a shared ambition to bring specialist cancer care closer to the communities we serve.

"We look forward to continuing our work together to ensure patients receive the highest quality care, as close to home as possible, in line with our ‘Gwent 35’ ten-year strategy.”

 

Since opening, the Unit has provided radiotherapy treatment for 262 breast cancer patients and 196 prostate cancer patients. Building on that success, the service has also expanded to include palliative radiotherapy, helping patients at some of the most challenging points in their cancer journey. Since the introduction of the service, 17 patients have received palliative radiotherapy treatment at the Unit.

Providing care closer to home remains a key priority across NHS Wales, and the impact of the Abergavenny facility extends far beyond treatment numbers. The Unit has reduced both the practical and emotional burden of attending treatment for many patients, while supporting wider environmental sustainability goals through fewer journeys on Welsh roads.

 

Kate Hannam, Director, Velindre Cancer Service, said:

"Working closely with colleagues at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, we have created a service that expands access to specialist radiotherapy treatment for people across south-east Wales.

"Over the past year, the Unit has already made a meaningful difference for many patients by reducing travel time and making access to care more convenient during a challenging period in their lives. We are proud of what has been achieved so far and look forward to building on this success in the years ahead."

The impact of the Unit can be seen in the experiences of patients like Eileen Powell from Newport, who received radiotherapy treatment at the Unit following surgery and chemotherapy.

 

"The quality of care was exceptional"

When Eileen was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer following a routine mammogram, she began a treatment journey which included surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

After completing chemotherapy, Eileen was referred to the Velindre @ Nevill Hall Radiotherapy Unit in Abergavenny, where she received radiotherapy treatment.

Reflecting on her experience, Eileen said:

"The convenience of having treatment at Nevill Hall made a huge difference. Knowing I could park easily and be right outside the unit took away a lot of the stress that comes with attending regular appointments."

Eileen also praised the care she received from staff throughout her treatment.

"The facility itself is fantastic, but it's the staff who really make the difference. Every member of the team has been professional, kind and reassuring. They always took the time to explain what was happening and make sure I was comfortable."

Looking back on her treatment, Eileen described her experience as overwhelmingly positive.

"You'll be very well looked after. The quality of care is exceptional and the staff are amazing. I honestly can't praise them highly enough."

 

Building on success

The success of the Unit has been made possible through close partnership working across services in Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent, and the continued support of the community.

As services continue to develop, Velindre looks forward to building on these relationships, creating new opportunities for people to get involved, support cancer care closer to home, and shaping the future of cancer services in Wales.