Cancer patients set for shorter journeys as new suite launches at Dr Kershaw’s

A NEW chemotherapy suite at Doctor Kershaw’s Hospice in Royton means more cancer patients can receive chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments closer to home.

With six treatment chairs, the new facility launched by specialist cancer centre The Christie is expected to be able to treat between 15 and 20 patients each day.

The service will be operating initially on each Monday, with the potential to deliver additional services on a Friday in the future.

At present, patients having treatment at The Christie in Withington may have to make a 40-mile round trip to receive chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice will be the sixteenth site in the North West to benefit from Christie chemotherapy services closer to home.

The Christie also operates an ‘At Home’ service providing treatment in patients’ homes.

Beverley Haigh, 56, and Pauline Nixon, 59, were two of the first patients on the day the new service opened.

Beverley is being treated for stomach and pancreatic cancer and was making a 45-mile round trip from Middleton to The Christie in Withington but now travels four miles to Royton.

Bowel cancer patient Pauline, from Bardsley, will also benefit from a much shorter journey, down from over 30 miles per treatment to less than 10.

She said: “This new service at Dr Kershaw’s has made an enormous difference. Previously, I had to travel over 30 miles to have treatment. Now it only takes me 15 minutes, giving me more time to spend with my family.”

Victoria Burns, outreach chemotherapy manager at The Christie, said: “This new service at Dr Kershaw’s is the latest part of our ambitious care closer to home programme following the success of similar services throughout the North West.

“Thanks to the dedication of our team, more than 5,000 patients each year benefit from having 22,800 chemotherapy or immunotherapy treatments closer to home.

“It’s so rewarding to see what a big difference this makes to cancer patients’ lives.”

Adele Doherty, clinical matron at Dr Kershaw’s, added: “We care for cancer patients every day and see first-hand the strain that travelling to The Christie has. It’s great to be able to offer our facilities to help cancer patients.”

• To find out more about Christie chemotherapy and immunotherapy services in the community contact the team on 0161 918 7654.

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