Horsham cancer patients can now get care ‘closer to home’

The new unit - the first of its kind in the south east - was officially launched today (Wednesday February 26) by Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench.

Dame Judi, 85, marked the launch with a special ceremony during which she toured the ultra-modern facility - which will move between sites in Woking and Horsham.

The mobile unit comes as a result of collaboration between the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Lloyds Pharmacy and the charity Tenovus Cancer Care.

Royal Surrey currently sees up to 500 patients a week for treatment and, once fully operational, the mobile unit will treat around 80 of these patients a week.

Divisional head of oncology nursing Vicki Mumford said: “For more patients than ever cancer is now a long term condition rather than an acute disease.

“These patients are parents, who want to do the school run, or employees who want to continue to work during treatment. They don’t want their lives to revolve around appointments and their diagnosis.

“By bringing chemotherapy into the community we are bringing our expert care and treatment closer to home, which should allow many to continue to lead more normal lives.”

Tenovus Cancer Care’s state-of-the-art purpose built mobile support unit features seven chemotherapy chairs, as well as a relaxing therapy room, modern waiting area, kitchen and bathroom facilities.

It is fully furnished with all of the same equipment available at the main hospital sites, including cold caps, which help reduce hair loss.

The treatments, which include traditional chemotherapy and immunotherapy, will be administered by nurses from Lloyds Pharmacy Clinical Homecare.

All patients will remain under the care and supervision of their consultant at Royal Surrey.

Complementary therapies delivered by the Fountain Centre team will also be available, including massage, aromatherapy and more.

Patients will be eligible to use the unit once they have safely undergone two treatments at Royal Surrey, which will ensure any side effects that may occur can be addressed.

After that they can choose to have future treatments in the mobile unit.