LIFE saving treatments for cancers can now be given at Halton Hospital after a £200,000 specialist unit was opened.
The new CANtreat centre, which means patients do not have to travel to Clatterbridge on the Wirral for treatment, has a large open area with reclining seats for providing the treatment, a comfortable waiting area, nurse’s station, clinic room, drug preparation area and a relative’s room.
Karen Mason, cancer lead manager said: “The new unit is fantastic. 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 which means that 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 from Runcorn, Widnes and the surrounding areas.”
It will be run by nurses and consultants from Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology and the drugs are prepared in advance at Clatterbridge and brought over to Halton for each clinic. Chemotherapy clinical services manager at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology Kim Barrow said, “This is such an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with our colleagues to ensure that patients are treated locally to where they live whilst ensuring they receive their treatments from chemotherapy experts.”.
More than half of the £200,000 needed to redesign the area and bring it into use was raised in the region led by fundraisers CANtreat.
Chris Eyres from CANtreat said: “Our aim is to improve the environment in which patients receive their chemotherapy. For donations go to www.justgiving.com/cantreat or write a cheque to CANtreat Ltd, PO Box 805, Warrington WA1 1ZS.
