Radiotherapy is a core part of modern cancer treatment and is second only to surgery in its effectiveness in treating cancer. About 40% of cancer patients who are cured receive radiotherapy cancer treatment. Between 2012-2014 there are on average 3,501 newly diagnosed malignant tumours in people living in the area covered by the Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group, out of a population of 482,100. However there are no radiotherapy facilities within the county of West Sussex.

Gillian Keegan MP for Chichester has been calling for St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester to be equipped with a radiotherapy unit as many of her constituents are travelling significant distances to receive treatment, typically either Brighton or Portsmouth.