Manchester’s specialist cancer centre, The Christie, has launched a new chemotherapy service at Tameside Hospital, so that more cancer patients from the Tameside and Glossop area, can access its first class chemotherapy treatment closer to home.

Based at the new £1.8m Tameside Macmillan Unit, Christie nursing staff will be treating up to 20 patients a day, three days a week, in a new six-chair chemotherapy suite.

The new centre, which has been funded by Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, will also provide a palliative care consulting room, complementary therapy room and prosthesis and wig-fitting areas.

Previously patients from Tameside and Glossop could access chemotherapy on The Christie’s mobile chemotherapy unit that travelled to Hyde one day a week, or The Christie chemotherapy clinic at Ashton Primary Care Centre on one day per week. If unable to attend these clinics then patients would need to make a gruelling round trip of up to three-hours to the main Christie site in South Manchester.

First patient Christine Foynes, 58, from Ashton under Lyne, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in March last year, and after having initial treatment at the main Christie site, began her treatment at the new centre this week.

Christine said: “The new centre is a lovely, bright, welcoming and calm space. It makes such a difference not to have to travel a long distance for treatment which can be tiring and take hours out of your day.

“My first visit was like walking in to a centre of calm. The Christie staff are amazing and make you feel at ease straight away. This new centre will make such a difference to patients like me who live in the Tameside and Glossop area. Together with the mobile chemotherapy unit, we can now access chemotherapy treatment on our doorstep four days a week.”

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