The Christie’s mobile chemotherapy unit celebrates first anniversary

The Christie’s mobile chemotherapy unit

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The Christie’s mobile chemotherapy unit, that is located at the Tesco Rochdale Extra every Monday, celebrates its first anniversary this week.

During the year the clinic has operated for more than 1,800 hours and treated over 2,000 patients across Greater Manchester.

The 50ft truck is 15ft high, has travelled over 7,000 miles visiting the five sites which host weekly clinics. This has saved patients a total of 30,000 miles travelling to the main hospital site in Withington. Fully funded by the Christie charity it treats patients five days a week from 9am - 4pm.

The bespoke vehicle, which cost £700,000, is stationed at Tesco Extra branches in Rochdale, Stretford and Hyde, at the Asda Superstore in Chadderton and also at Royal Bolton Hospital. The tailor-made trailer has four treatment chairs to enable Christie nurses to treat up to 20 cancer patients a day. There is also a waiting area for relatives.

Kevin Crowley, a 61 year old keen angler from Castleton, who is being treated for bowel cancer and visits the mobile chemotherapy unit on Mondays in Rochdale said: “I think it’s fantastic. It’s not as stressful as going to the main site as it’s only a 10 minute walk from home. The facilities at the Christie are second to none and this is no different. The treatment is exactly the same plus you get a one-to-one service. The nurses here are wonderful. They laugh and joke with you and you even get a cup of tea.”

Interim Chief Executive at The Christie, Roger Spencer, said; “The mobile chemotherapy unit, which has been paid for by our charity, has proved a huge success over the past 12 months. It can treat up to 100 patients a week who otherwise would have to travel long distances for treatment at our main site.

“This facility delivers first class care and specialist treatment closer to patients’ homes.”
It also visits Stretford, Hyde, Chadderton and Bolton every week.

Chemotherapy outreach manager at The Christie, Vicki Burns, said; “These five areas have been carefully identified as where the unit is most needed. Staffed by Christie nurses and healthcare assistants it offers the same high standards of treatment and care consistent with our main site. The mobile unit arrives on the same day of the week at each location so this is consistent for patients having standard weekly infusions. We have extremely positive feedback from all our patients that who uses it.”

All patients will be assessed by a Christie nurse before their treatment begins and will continue to have regular reviews by their Christie consultant.

Christie patients living in one of the five areas the unit visits can find out if they’re eligible to be treated at the mobile unit by calling 0161 918 7671.