Bosses at Leighton Hospital and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust are a step closer to bringing a specialist cancer care entre to South Cheshire.
Both trusts have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a shared ambition to bring more specialist cancer care closer to home for people in Nantwich and Crewe.
The agreement sets out plans to develop a new stand-alone ambulatory cancer unit as part of the new Leighton Hospital, creating a Christie Neighbourhood Cancer Centre.
This would enable patients to access high-quality cancer treatment locally, delivered by The Christie.
This would reduce the need to travel to The Christie’s Manchester site for routine ambulatory cancer care.
The proposed centre is part of Mid Cheshire Hospitals’ wider Healthier Futures programme and the aim to create a health and care neighbourhood at Leighton Hospital.
Dr Clare Hammell, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a hugely positive moment for our Trust and our local communities.
“Our Healthier Futures plans have always included bringing a new and more developed ambulatory cancer unit to Leighton Hospital, as part of our commitment to delivering more care closer to home.
“Continued close working with The Christie gives us a fantastic opportunity to improve access to specialist, life‑saving treatment and to create a more joined‑up experience for patients and families.
“This partnership also reflects the direction of travel for the NHS nationally – working across organisations to improve cancer care, reduce inequalities and make services more accessible.
“The Christie Neighbourhood Cancer Centre shows how national ambitions can be turned into practical, local improvements for patients.”
Dr Neil Bayman, Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This agreement is a very exciting step and demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared purpose.
“We are proud to be building on our strong relationship with Mid Cheshire to develop a Christie Neighbourhood Cancer Centre that brings specialist cancer care closer to people’s homes in line with our neighbourhood oncology model.
“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is an important first step.
“We will now continue to work closely with Mid Cheshire Hospitals, alongside partners and patients, to develop the detailed plans and take the next stages forward.”
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