World’s first mobile cancer care unit relaunched in Gloucestershire
Mobile cancer care unit ‘Helen’ officially relaunches in Gloucestershire
An upgraded mobile cancer care unit named ‘Helen’ has relaunched in Gloucestershire with patients praising the benefits of it.
The unit helps bring cancer care closer to cancer patients living in rural areas of the county and stops them from having to continuously make trips to Cheltenham General Hospital for their treatment.
The unit has been provided by the charity Hope for Tomorrow who have now provided these specialist units to NHS trusts across the country.
Gloucestershire’s unit was originally launched in 2007 as the world’s first mobile cancer care unit.
The vehicle has been replaced with a newly upgraded unit, ensuring it remains in the best possible condition to continue serving patients for years to come.
‘Helen’ makes trips to Cinderford, Stroud and Cirencester, and can provide chemotherapy treatments to up to four patients at a time.
Over the past year over 1,820 patient visits have taken place on board which helps reduce pressure on hospital oncology departments.
The aim of the unit is to make cancer care more convenient and more affordable for cancer patients who have to spend money on travel for their appointments.
Tina Seymour, Chief Executive of Hope for Tomorrow, said:
“We’re delighted to officially launch the newly upgraded mobile cancer care unit, ‘Helen’, here in Gloucestershire.
“With over 93% of patients telling us they find mobile units more convenient, the impact of providing treatment in local communities is clear.
“This service saves patients time and money as well as reducing stress at this difficult time, making cancer care a that little bit easier.”
80-year-old Laurence Levett has been receiving part of his cancer treatment through the mobile unit and says it has made the experience less frustrating.
Describing the frustration he told Greatest Hits Radio “In the beginning my journey was a 65 miles round trip and sometimes it’s the frustration of travelling, with all the roadworks that were going on into Cheltenham at the time and you get to the carpark to find the carpark full.”
Laurence was told about the possibility of getting his treatment closer to home when he was attending one of his hospital appointments.
He said “my speciality nurse said to me have you heard you can go on the bus to have treatment, and I didn’t know what on earth she was talking about.
“I thought the bus, is that the bus from Gloucester to Cheltenham or is it the one from Chepstow?
“And no no no no it’s a special bus, its like a ward on wheels.”