IPSWICH Hospital's radiotherapy staff will today be honoured at a House of Commons ceremony after being named as the region's top team.The Society of Radiographers has selected the hospital for its team award at its annual prize giving.

IPSWICH Hospital's radiotherapy staff will today be honoured at a House of Commons ceremony after being named as the region's top team.

The Society of Radiographers has selected the hospital for its team award at its annual prize giving.

Christine Mackenzie, acting radiotherapy manager who has been with the department since 1975, was also nominated for an individual award but did not make first place.

The team of 20 therapy radiographers, which also won the Using Technology to Deliver better Care award at the hospital staff awards in April, gives treatment to around 70 patients a day.

Lisa Mann, a Macmillan radiotherapy radiographer specialist, said: “We are a small department but we do a lot of cutting edge treatment.

“We do it day in and day out so it seems normal to us, but when you think about it in comparison to other radiotherapy teams, we do really well. We are gaining the respect of others not only nationally, but internationally.

“We don't have waiting lists and our patients can expect the best. Patient care is always paramount in the minds of staff which has helped drive their selfless professionalism.

“And Christine is such a wonderful person and so good at what she does. She's an inspiration to us all.”

Ipswich Hospital's radiotherapy department, at the north end of the Heath Road site, has three main treatments rooms and a fourth used to treat skin cancers.

N Do you work at the hospital? Does your department have some good news? Call health reporter Hazel Byford on 01473 324836, e-mail her at hazel.byford@eveningstar.co.uk or write to Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

PATIENTS undergoing radiotherapy at Ipswich Hospital get extra information and support from specialists Lisa Mann and Amanda Ford.

The Macmillan radiotherapy radiographer specialists answer questions about diagnosis and treatment, on top of the support provided by the treatment radiographers.

They are also able to offer support to families and offer practical and financial advice and act as a link to district nurses and other community services.

To contact them, call 01473 704361.