A CAMPAIGN to bring a radiotherapy unit to Kendal's Westmorland General Hospital has taken another step forward.

The Government has announced it will officially look into the effect long travel times have on a cancer patient’s ability to recover.

It follows an impassioned plea that Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron made in the House of Commons for a radiotherapy centre to be sited at the hospital.

Mr Farron called for travel time, particularly for the elderly and disabled, to become part of NHS England's criteria for delivering radiotherapy, based on medical evidence that indicates outcomes for cancer sufferers could be worse if they need to make longer journeys.

During the debate, health minister Jackie Doyle-Price announced that the Government will produce a report on whether travel times affect outcomes.

“The thousands of us campaigning for a radiotherapy unit in Kendal should be encouraged by this new study as it will give us vital evidence to strengthen our case," said Mr Farron afterwards. “As I pointed out to the minister, the evidence suggesting that cancer patients who have to travel very long distances may have worse outcomes already exists and the Government should commit to a radiotherapy unit for the South Lakes now.

“All the same, the promise of this study gives us cause for optimism for our campaign.”

The Department for Health said the report will be available this Spring.