CANCER patients in Warrington have received a major boost with the opening of a new £200,000 chemotherapy centre.
The new unit is at Halton General Hospital – but it will mean Warrington patients no longer have to travel to Clatterbridge, on the Wirral, or receive treatment in temporary accommodation at Warrington Hospital.
Cancer rates in Warrington are significantly higher than the national average so local services are key and the new facility will be closer to
home for many patients.
Warrington and Halton Hospitals already work in partnership with the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology and the new unit was part funded through CANtreat – a cancer charity that specialises in funding improved environments for chemotherapy patients in the North West region.
Around 20 to 30 patients a day with a range of solid tumour cancers such as lung, colorectal, breast and upper gastro intestinal cancers can now receive treatment at Halton
There are many types of chemotherapy treatments using different drugs that are specially prepared for each patient. Some patients need a simple injection of a drug that can take a few minutes to complete but many chemotherapy treatments require infusions through a drip that can take several hours.
The unit has been designed to provide a bright and comfortable environment for providing the treatment and is run by a mix of nurses and consultants from Clatterbridge. The drugs are prepared in advance at Clatterbridge and brought over to Halton for each clinic. The unit has a large open area with reclining seats for providing the treatment as well as a comfortable waiting area, nurse’s station, clinic room, drug preparation area and even a relative’s room.
It is linked to the existing Delamere Cancer Centre on the site where there are exciting plans to provide a complementary therapies suite open five days a week and will allow patients to receive a range of treatments to support their care.
Cancer leader manager Karen Mason: “Patients can come in, see the doctor, have their bloods taken and then receive their treatment in comfort. It’s purpose built for their needs, it’s comfortable and it is close to where they live.
“We can make what can be a very difficult course of treatment much easier for people. It greatly expands the cancer service we can offer local patients.”
More than half the cost of the £200,000 project was raised by CANtreat – and fundraising is ongoing to help pay for further improvements.
Donations can be made on line at www.justgiving.com/cantreat or by cheque to CANtreat Ltd, PO Box 805, Warrington WA1 1ZS.
