A SIX-YEAR long battle to bring radiotherapy services to Westmorland General Hospital looks to have cleared a major hurdle.

The government this week confirmed it will stump up around £15m to build a specialist unit at the Kendal hospital in a move which would prevent cancer sufferers being forced to travel to Preston for the potentially life-saving treatment.

But first the trust in charge of the hospital must submit a business case to the Department of Health - proving there is a need for a dedicated unit on the Burton Road site.

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"When it is built and the machines are turned on then we will crack open the champagne," said South Lakes MP Tim Farron, who heralded the news as the 'biggest leap forward' in a long-running campaign to bring radiotherapy to Kendal.

"Kendal is the right location for people from the south end of Eden, all the way out to Barrow and to the Dales.

"Everything is pointing in the right direction but we must not be complacent. We have got to take a moment to celebrate and be proud of what has been achieved but also focus on making sure we get this over the line."

National guidelines say nobody should have to travel more than 45 minutes for radiotherapy.

However, an estimated 400 cancer sufferers from South Lakeland and Furness made what can be a 140-mile round trip to Preston to receive treatment last year, according to latest NHS figures.

Some have to make that long journey every day over an extended period at a time when they are ill, worried and suffering from some of the after effects of radiotherapy.

"Having a unit closer to home is about making sure people have a good quality of life and get better quicker," added Mr Farron.

"For me, this is a deeply personal campaign I lost my Mum to ovarian cancer and my mother in law to pancreatic cancer.  

"I've seen friends with cancer travel for treatment every day and seen the terrible toll it puts on families. Asking people to make that gruelling two-hour round trip for treatment is not acceptable in these days of improved cancer care."

The Westmorland Gazette's Shorter Journeys Longer Lives campaign to bring the service to Kendal was launched in 2011 and ran alongside one set up by Mr Farron.

The strength of feeling was shown when 2,000 people marched through Kendal town centre in a passionate plea to the country's decision-makers.

And now the final green light could be just months away - if the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust can persuade government health bosses of the advantages of a centre in Kendal.

In October last year, South Cumbria was named by NHS England as one of just three places in England where cancer patients face 'unjustifiably long and debilitating' journeys for radiotherapy.

Last July, the NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said that they want to 'prioritise the resources necessary' for a cancer treatment unit in Kendal. 

"The Department of Health have previously outlined that south Cumbria is a blackspot when it comes to provision of radiotherapy treatment and that it is a necessary gap to fill," said Mr Farron.

In their five year Cumbria, the CCG said: "The Better Care Together partners support the campaign to provide radiotherapy at Kendal and would strongly urge NHS England to prioritise the resources necessary to establish a sustainable centre at Westmorland General, which will ensure all our residents can access high quality care within national standards and which can be a beacon of excellence for cancer care in the wider sub region."

The trust will not be asked to put a penny into the development with running costs covered thanks to a new tariff which provides greater flexibility for NHS commissioners to fund smaller radiotherapy units.

A UHMBT spokesperson said: "The trust has publicly made clear our support for the campaign to bring radiotherapy to Westmorland General Hospital, and continues to work with partners across the NHS."

The news came in a letter sent by Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury, to Mr Farron on Tuesday.

In it, Mr Alexander said: "Provided that a strong, viable business case is put forward, then the project will have an excellent case for accessing funding from the Department of Health, subject to its affordability. Should the department support the project then I can confirm that the Treasury will also support it."