Beacon Hospital Treats First Patient with RapidArc Dynamic Radiotherapy in Ireland and UK
Wednesday, 3rd December 2025: Beacon Hospital has announced a major milestone for cancer care in Ireland, having become the first hospital in Ireland and the UK, and only the fifth in Europe, to treat a patient using Varian’s new RapidArc Dynamic radiotherapy technology. The first patient was treated recently by Consultant Radiation Oncologist Dr Síobhra O’Sullivan, marking a significant advancement in precision cancer treatment in Ireland.
The RapidArc Dynamic technology forms part of the hospital’s new Varian TrueBeam system, the most advanced radiotherapy machine currently available in Ireland. Delivered to Beacon Hospital in August, the machine has been treating patients since then and is equipped with HyperSight, HyperArc and RapidArc Dynamic (RAD) capabilities. According to the hospital’s Radiation Oncology team, this combined technology delivers unprecedented accuracy, speed and personalisation in radiation treatment.
RapidArc Dynamic is a newly released technology from Varian that uses advanced computer modelling to shape and deliver radiation with exceptional precision. Treatment planning that previously took hours can now be completed in minutes, significantly accelerating clinical workflow. The system also shapes the radiotherapy dose to the exact shape of a patient’s tumour, sparing nearby organs and healthy tissue.
The technology offers multiple clinical advantages:
- Speed: treatment planning that once took hours now takes minutes. Faster treatment delivery time for patients, meaning a comfortable patient experience.
- Precision: the technology optimally conforms the radiotherapy treatment beam to the exact size and contour of the tumour.
- Protection: less radiation exposure to healthy organs and tissue, which can reduce side effects.
- Clarity: high-definition on-board CT imaging with HyperSight technology, allowing clear views of the tumour at each treatment.
Dr Síobhra O’Sullivan, who treated the first patient with RapidArc Dynamic, said: “For patients, this means faster treatment, more precise targeting of the tumour and lower exposure of healthy tissue to radiation doses, all of which brings an opportunity for improved outcomes. Being able to deliver this level of precision places Ireland at the forefront of radiotherapy innovation in Europe.”
Commenting on the milestone, Beacon Hospital CEO Michael Cullen said: “This is a landmark achievement for Irish healthcare and a reflection of Beacon Hospital’s commitment to investing in the most advanced, life-changing technologies. Our goal is to ensure that Irish patients have access to the best cancer treatments available anywhere in the world, and RapidArc Dynamic is a major step forward in delivering that.”
