Cancer patients set for shorter journeys

More cancer patients from the local area can now receive first class chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments closer to home.

Manchester’s specialist cancer centre, The Christie, has launched a new chemotherapy suite at Doctor Kershaw’s Hospice in Royton.

With six treatment chairs, the new facility is expected to be able to treat between 15 and 20 patients each day.

The new service in Oldham will be operating initially on Monday each week, 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.

Doctor 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) (both pictured) were two of the first patients on the day the new service opened.

Beverley, from Middleton, is being treated for stomach and pancreatic cancer. She was making the 45 mile round trip to The Christie in Withington for her treatment but now only has to travel 4 miles to Royton for treatment. 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.

Commenting on the new service, Pauline said: “This new service at Doctor Kershaw’s Hospice has made an enormous difference to me. Previously, I had to travel over 30 miles to have treatment at The Christie in Withington. 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 Doctor Kershaw’s Hospice 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 Doctor Kershaw’s hospice 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 throughout the Oldham area.”

The Christie chemotherapy and immunotherapy outreach service includes:

• Clinics at hospital trusts in Bolton, Leighton (Crewe), Macclesfield, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Wigan.
• Nurse led clinics at Arden House Medical Practice in New Mills, Bury Townside Primary Care Centre, Salford Royal and St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice.
• The mobile chemotherapy unit in Bolton, Chadderton, Rochdale and Stretford.
• An at home service of nurses providing treatment in a patient’s home.
• Blood test clinics at Bolton Hospice, Bury Hospice, Oldham Integrated Care Centre, St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice and Dr Kershaw’s Oldham

Anyone interested in finding out more about Christie chemotherapy and immunotherapy services in the community can contact the team on 0161 918 7654.