A WOMAN from Kendal has described the hours of travelling and stress which has resulted from having to make a daily three hour round trip to Preston for cancer treatment.

Kate Baron, who lives on Heron Hill, had to visit the Royal Preston Hospital for radiotherapy treatment for 15 consecutive weekdays.

And she said her experience underlined the desperate need for a radiotherapy unit at the Westmorland General Hospital (WGH).

"I consider myself very lucky because my husband was able to give me a lift to Preston," said Mrs Baron.

"And I only had 15 sessions to attend while some other patients I met had to attend 37 sessions.

"If I had to use public transport every day, it would be almost impossible for me, and the patient transport system also takes such a long time as they have to drop each patient off."

Mrs Baron said she had to allow an hour and a quarter for her journey down, but she said she felt she was fortunate as fellow patients from areas such as Furness had a much longer daily journey.

"Such travelling really takes it out of you both mentally and physically, especially if , like me, you have just had major surgery," said Mrs Baron.

"But I'm lucky again in that I have just retired.

"For younger people who have children or other family commitments, and who may still be working when they are well enough, it must be incredibly difficult."

MP Tim Farron, who has fronted a long campaign for a radiotherapy unit at WGH, gave Mrs Baron a lift on one day of her treatment in order to gain first hand experience of the problems such patients faced.

And the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP referred to the experience of transporting Mrs Baron for her treatment when he spoke in the House of Commons during health questions.

“Would the Secretary of State agree to look personally at the case for a new satellite radiotherapy unit to the Westmorland General Hospital tied to the Rosemere unit in Preston?" he told the House.

“Last week I had the privilege of driving a constituent of mine, Kate Baron, for her treatment at the Preston hospital.

“Wonderful treatment though it is there was a three-hour round trip for her – on 15 separate occasions.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of people in the South Lakes having to make debilitating lengthy round trips to get treatment day after day after day which is damaging to their long-term health and indeed their ability to access radiotherapy at all.”

In response, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I can see the point that he is making and the public health minister who’s responsible for cancer policy will be very happy to meet with him.”

Mr Farron said he was pleased to report that he had secured a meeting with the health minister Seema Kennedy to discuss the issue as part of the ongoing campaign to secure the facility.