A Milestone Moment: The Halcyon Linear Accelerator Arrives at QEH

Bridgetown, Barbados – October 21, 2025

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) marked a historic moment in its ongoing transformation of cancer care with the arrival and blessing of the Halcyon 4.0 Linear Accelerator (LINAC) — a cutting-edge technology that will significantly enhance radiation therapy services for patients in Barbados and the wider Eastern Caribbean.

The Halcyon LINAC represents a major leap forward in the hospital’s commitment to precision, safety, and patient-centred care. Designed to deliver targeted radiation that destroys cancer cells while protecting surrounding healthy tissue, the system will allow for faster, more accurate, and more comfortable treatments for patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Following its safe transport to the hospital under police escort, coordinated by Hinds Transport Services, the accelerator was carefully offloaded under the supervision of Director of Engineering Services, Paula Agbowu, and the QEH facilities team. The delivery marks the culmination of months of planning and collaboration between the QEH, Global Medica, and Varian Medical Systems — key partners in this ambitious installation project.

The installation phase is now underway, involving a series of technical preparations and safety calibrations to ensure the LINAC’s optimal performance once operational. When complete, the new system will form the cornerstone of QEH’s Radiation Oncology Services, expanding treatment options and reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for care.

This milestone is part of the QEH’s broader modernization efforts, aimed at improving outcomes, enhancing patient experience, and strengthening healthcare delivery across all departments.