A NEW service is to be launched to help thousands of cancer patients in York and across North Yorkshire.

York Against Cancer has commissioned a £700,000 mobile unit to bring chemotherapy closer to patients’ homes.

The 15-foot high truck is slightly larger than a heavy goods vehicle, and expands to three times its road width, offering patients chemotherapy without them having to travel to York Hospital.

The truck will help ruralpatients in Bridlington, Scarborough, Malton, Easingwold, Selby and York, where it will operate as an additional department at the main hospitals, before moving between other sites.

Julie Russell, general manager of York Against Cancer, said the charity was thrilled to provide such an important service. She said: “It’s exactly what we are here for. We are so grateful for this legacy, which will make a big difference to people’s lives.”

A similar unit run by a charity in Manchester has treated more than 2,000 patients in 12 months, operated for more than 1,800 hours, travelled more than 7,000 miles, and saved patients journeys totalling 30,000 miles.

York Press:

Karen Cowley, directorate manager of specialist medicine at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is overseeing the introduction of the unit, and called it “an absolutely fantastic opportunity to develop and improve” existing chemotherapy services.

She said: “Our patients have to travel long distances, often multiple times a week, to access chemotherapy services at York and Scarborough hospitals.

“Providing chemotherapy in a purpose-built mobile unit will enable us to provide a high-quality service ensuring patients are cared for safely and closer to home, reducing the time they spend travelling to appointments.”

“We are always looking for ways to develop our chemotherapy services to improve the experience for patients and their carers/families. As a team we are thrilled and excited by this opportunity and look forward to our partnership with York Against Cancer and launching this service.”

The unit should be in service next summer, to mark the thirtieth anniversary year of York Against Cancer.