SWANSEA: £15m cancer scanner centre rising at Singleton, with first patients in early 2027

Cancer patients across south west Wales are set to get their specialist scans closer to home, with a £15m permanent PET-CT centre taking shape at Singleton Hospital.

The new facility at the South West Wales Cancer Centre will replace the mobile scanner that has worked from the hospital since 2020, with the scanner itself due to be installed in November and the first patients expected in early 2027. Work began last October, when the development was priced at £14m; the council now puts the figure at £15m.

PET-CT scans help doctors find cancer, see how far it has spread, choose the right treatment and check whether it is working or has returned. The technology can also pick up some brain and heart conditions.

The mobile service has already cut the number of patients from Swansea Bay and west Wales travelling to Cardiff for scans, according to the council, and the permanent centre will add capacity on top.

It will also add services to what is available locally, including scans for children, procedures carried out under general anaesthetic and specialist brain scans.

The building, at the north end of the hospital site and constructed by Tilbury Douglas, will include six uptake rooms for patient preparation, a general anaesthesia room and dedicated waiting areas, and is one of four permanent scanners the Welsh Government programme aims to establish across Wales, alongside Velindre, north Wales and a fourth site yet to be confirmed.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart visited the site with chief executive Martin Nicholls for an update from Jan Williams, chair of Swansea Bay University Health Board.

“This is a significant investment in cancer diagnostics for the people of Swansea and South West Wales and it’s welcome news for patients and their families,” Cllr Stewart said.

“Having access to these specialist scans closer to home can make a real difference for people who are already facing challenging circumstances. It means less travelling, easier access to care and more support closer to family and friends.

“The South West Wales Cancer Centre at Singleton Hospital is an important regional service supporting communities across Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda, and this development will help ensure local people continue to benefit from modern healthcare and expert clinical care.”

Ms Williams said: “Many people across Wales will experience cancer in their lifetime and it is important that everyone has equitable access to the latest technology, irrespective of where they live.

“This new facility will help people from across our community in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot along with Hywel Dda, Powys and Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

“We are very grateful to Welsh Government for their support to build this much-needed centre and we look forward to it opening in early 2027.”

The Welsh Government is funding the development as part of a wider programme to expand PET-CT scanning capacity across Wales, alongside the country’s first national cancer strategy in 20 years, due for publication in February 2027.

Author

Kit Peters

Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.