An external beam radiation therapy system including a plurality of compartments separated from one another by radiation shields, each of the compartments including a patient support system that includes a support member and a fixation member for supporting and spatially fixing a target portion of the patient for irradiation thereof, and a radiation source housing including at least one radiation source operable to emit radiation beams into the compartments towards the target portion in each of the compartments, wherein each of the compartments includes a beam shaper for shaping the radiation beams emitted into that compartment, and wherein the radiation shields are configured to provide adequate shielding in each compartment, in accordance with a safety standard, against radiation produced in other compartments.
