CLATTERBRIDGE Cancer Centre has received international recognition for its rigorous standards in radiosurgery.

Its radiotherapy treatment centre, based at Aintree University Hospital, was accredited as a 'Novalis Certified Radiosurgey Centre' at a ceremony attended by leading international clinicians specialising in brain and extracranial conditions.

Along with The Christie at Salford Royal and The Edinburgh Cancer Centre, the three centres are the first in Europe to receive this acclaim and are now certified for their high quality of cancer treatment with radiosurgery, radiation therapy and their commitment to patient safety.

Dr Brian Haylock, clinical director for radiation services at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said: "We are delighted to be one of the first cancer centres in Europe to receive this certification.

"As one of the largest radiotherapy treatment centres in the UK, patient safety is paramount to the Trust, and the fact that our procedures for highly complex treatments have been assessed and approved to this international standard helps to ensure that our staff and patients know we are adhering to high quality standards of patient safety."

The accreditation followed audits carried by Novalis Circle, an independent network of specialist clinicians dedicated to advancing radiosurgery worldwide.

Each centre was measured on the quality and safety of procedures for stereotatctic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation and was required to demonstrate best practice at each step of the clinical, support and administrative process.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre houses one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the UK.

Its £17m purpose-built treatment centre on the Aintree Hospital brings treatments closer to patients' homes and is uniquely located adjacent to the country's only specialist neuroscience NHS Trust, The Walton Centre.

The facility was the first in the UK to treat patients using the revolutionary Novalis Tx treatment technique for cancerous and non-cancerous brain conditions.

James Robar, Novalis Certified Auditor, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie University, and chief of Medical Physics at Capital Health, who was part of the UK audit team, said: "We are very pleased to deliver the first certifications in Europe, and the three UK centres now join a group of leading oncology units from across the world.

"Novalis Certified is an independent programme directed by the Novalis Circle and is available to qualified centres that show an exceptional commitment to safety and quality in the treatment of cancers with radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy."