A NEW mobile cancer unit for West Yorkshire was launched at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

The facility was unveiled on November 5 by charity Hope for Tomorrow .

The Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU) has been designed for flexibility, so can be deployed wherever need is greatest.

It is called “Linda”, in memory of the late wife of Hope for Tomorrow ambassador Captain Dan Conley. Linda was a supporter of Hope for Tomorrow for many years, before she died from cancer.

The West Yorkshire MCCU is owned and maintained by Hope for Tomorrow and is being provided along with a Nurses’ Support Vehicle.

Locations the MCCU will visit include places in and beyond West Yorkshire such as Sainsbury’s Supermarket, Keighley, Woodbank Nurseries, Wilsden, Booths Supermarket, Ilkley, Generous Pioneer, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Morrisons Supermarket, Skipton.

Megan Broadley, Hope for Tomorrow partnership manager, said: “We’re very excited to be partnering with Airedale. We already have a great working relationship with the trust and look forward to developing this further to make the MCCU a success”.

Michael Howard a patient at Airedale, said: “There’s never a good time to be told you need cancer treatment. But to be told treatment is available a few minutes from your own home in comfortable and quiet surroundings is a major leap forward.”

Pat Dyminski, lead nurse specialist, said “In the few weeks we’ve been using the mobile unit it has made a huge difference to patients’ lives.

“Their comments have been very positive and the stress of travelling, parking and waiting has been relieved, making patients much more relaxed when having difficult treatment.”

Stacey Hunter, chief operating officer of Airedale, said: “We’re delighted to unveil this new unit in partnership with Hope for Tomorrow. This is helping us to bring our ambition to wherever possible offer patients care closer to home, so they don’t spend valuable time travelling to hospital.”

Keighley MP John Grogan said: “This is a fine example of the NHS working with a charity to deliver better services for patients.

“My own family experience has taught me how tiring and demanding a course of chemotherapy can be .

“The idea of climbing onto a smart bus parked near home and being treated without a long wait will for many people make the experience more bearable.”