CANCER patients who have to travel about 30 miles for life-saving chemotherapy should soon be able to receive the treatment in York.
In a joint vision between York and Harrogate hospital trusts, health chiefs want treatment for ovarian cancer transferred from Leeds to York, and to administer up-to-date drugs for colorectal cancer in the city.
The move would see York Hospital brought up to standard with other cancer units such as Huddersfield, Bradford and Airedale, which already provide more "localised" cancer services.
To deliver the improvements, three consultant oncologists will be appointed over three years, alongside more nurses and pharmacy staff.
Dr David Jackson, consultant medical oncologist at York Hospital, said a Cancer Unit Alliance had been established between the hospital trusts, and with Selby and York, Craven, Harrogate and Rural District primary care trusts.
He said while York currently delivered a comprehensive chemotherapy service for lung and breast cancers and for upper gastrointestinal and urological malignancies, it did not provide NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) approved drugs for colorectal cancer, or chemotherapy for ovarian cancer locally.
He said York had "lagged behind" other units, but now government guidelines had been established to guide hospital services, the city was on course to catch up quickly.
Dr Jackson said: "It's only over the last few years that there has been government guidance and legislation in place for delivering cancer services.
"Now that there is, York's coming up to standard and getting on board very quickly.
"Chemotherapy can be quite a complex treatment to receive, which can sometimes be made more complex by having to travel 20 or 30 miles to receive it, and also to get advice if you've got any questions afterwards.
"This is an extremely positive step and really important.
"It's York following government guidance and developing a strategy for how we can deliver these drugs locally, carefully and in a planned way.
"Hopefully it will make the process of going through chemotherapy more convenient."
Updated: 10:58 Monday, November 29, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article