Three healthcare providers are bringing together cancer care services for people in Wigan – with the creation of a £5million Cancer Care Centre.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (WWL), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support have announced the state of the art centre, which will open on the Monday December 8.
The centre will offer 12 Chemotherapy treatment areas, counselling facilities, a complementary therapy suite and a Macmillan Information and Support Service.
Leonora Anson, WWL chemotherapy unit manager, said: “Our new Cancer Care Centre will bring about a new standard for cancer care. It will improve the experience for cancer patients and help to save more lives.”
As part of the national ‘Chemotherapy Closer to Home’ initiative, the centre has developed a joint service with The Christie to undertake certain chemotherapy treatments currently provided at their hospital in Manchester.
The Christie Charity has donated £98,442 for NHS Plus equipment, assuring that patients receive their treatment in an environment equal to the main Christie NHS hospital site in Withington.
Jackie Wrench, service manager, lead nursechemotherapy at The Christie said: “We are delighted to be working with Wigan, developing a Christie at Wigan service for patients receiving chemotherapy treatments
“The unit will allow more Christie patients who live in the Wigan area to receive their treatment closer to home, reducing the time spent on travelling and increase the time spent on the everyday things that are really important to our patients.”
Macmillan Cancer Support have contributed £350,000 towards the Macmillan Information Support Service, which will transform cancer care in Wigan, making information and support available closer to home for people affected by cancer.
The new Macmillan Information and Support service is available for patients not only in the Wigan Cancer Care Centre, but also at the Thomas Linacre Centre in Wigan and through information pods on the Leigh Infirmary site.
Ann-Marie Kelly, Macmillan information manager, said that this service will guarantee that patients have access to vital information throughout their cancer journey.
She said: “Anyone who is affected by cancer will have access to accurate up-to-date information at all stages of the cancer pathway as well as practical, psychological and emotional support.”
As part of the initiative, the Hospital’s charity, Three Wishes, has been raising money towards a patient sensory garden.
The garden, designed to give cancer patients and their families a relaxing retreat within the hospital grounds, has been partially funded by WWL staff fundraising events, including Tough Mudder.
WWL volunteers will be working in the Chemotherapy Suite, supporting patients during their cancer journey, and undertaking general housekeeping duties.
The partnership has also seen involvement from Cancer Charity, CANtreat, whose contributions are going to towards the design and fit out of the Complementary Therapy Suite within the centre.
