Health news for Cumbria and the Lake District: South Lakes, Eden, North Lancashire, Yorkshire
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Shorter Journeys Longer Lives campaign
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Health Minister backs South Lakes radiotherapy unit campaign
11:00am Thursday 26th April 2012 THE Health Secretary has turned his personal attention to plans for a radiotherapy unit in South Lakeland – but fell short of offering financial support. Join march to help bring radiotherapy centre to Kendal8:50pm Wednesday 29th February 2012 A RALLYING cry has gone out for people to join this Saturday’s march to help bring radiotherapy services to South Lakeland. Date set for march in support of radioetherapy centre for Kendal1:40pm Thursday 26th January 2012 A MASS demonstration has been organised in a final push to bring radiotherapy services to South Lakeland. Windermere cancer survivor backs Shorter Journeys Longer Lives campaign
8:40am Thursday 1st December 2011 A CANCER survivor has shared her uplifting story to help show others why radiotherapy services are vital in South Lakeland. Cancer tsar backs campaign9:20am Thursday 24th November 2011 BRITAIN’S ‘cancer tsar’ Professor Mike Richards could prove an influential voice in the campaign to bring a radiotherapy unit to Westmorland General Hospital (WGH).
May 2007: The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group issued guidelines saying patients should not live more than 45 minutes from radiotherapy. Oct 2008: MP Tim Farron launched an Early Day Motion to raise awareness of the need for South Lakeland cancer services. Jul 2009: Health bosses began scouting for a south Cumbria site. Dec 2009: Kendal was put forward for a radiotherapy centre. The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust and the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust began a business plan. May 2011: A chemotherapy unit launched at Westmorland General. Oct 2011: Tim Farron upped pressure on commissioners into approving a radiotherapy centre. Now: Health chiefs are in discussions to decide if plans will work. A radiotherapy centre could be seen in South Lakeland in two years. |
This is about saving and prolonging lives. An awful situation can be made much worse by unnecessary distance.
The last thing patients want is a long drive for treatment. People are turning down care that could help them live longer and help them deal with the pain better.
The creation of a cancer centre in Preston was part of the solution. The final piece of the jigsaw is the creation of a centre in south Cumbria.
Lives are being lost because people have to travel around 50 miles to receive basic radiotherapy treatment. We are appealing to readers to get behind our campaign.
Are you affected by the lack of local radiotherapy treatment? Let us know. Contact Helen Perkins here. |
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale
Dr Hugh Reeve, NHS Cumbria
Prof John Ashton, Cumbria’s director of public health
Kevin Young, Westmorland Gazette editor
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