TV legend backing 'Cancer Cuppas', supporting Salisbury mobile chemo unit
Gloria Hunniford is a patron for Hope for Tomorrow
A broadcasting legend is getting behind a campaign to raise awareness of mobile cancer care units, like the one based at Salisbury District Hospital.
Gloria Hunniford is a patron of Hope for Tomorrow, which runs chemo units in vans that go out to communities, rather than patients travelling into hospitals.
Salisbury has had a mobile unit since 2012, named Kayleigh in memory of a local patient.
Gloria is backing the 'Cuppa for Cancer Care' week campaign this week, to coincide with World Cancer Day on Saturday (4th February).
The event encourages people to get together for tea, coffee and cake and raise money and awareness for Hope for Tomorrow and their work.
Gloria said:
“Cancer can take a terrible toll on individuals and their families. Travelling for repeated treatment is often difficult, stressful and time-consuming, for so many people. The mobile cancer care units and specialist NHS nurses drive out to patients’ communities rather than them having to travel to hospital. This makes a difficult time that much easier for them.
“Patients regularly comment on how great the nurses and drivers are, with the team immediately making them comfortable and offering them a cup of tea or coffee. That’s where the idea of Cuppa for Cancer Care came from, and we hope that people across the country will get together for this wonderful cause. The mobile units are a fabulous asset in their communities.”
Gloria lost her daughter, Caron Keating, to breast cancer in 2004, and a mobile cancer care unit has been named after her.
The trucks are just like hospital treatment rooms, with four treatment chairs, chemotherapy pump stands, and medical storage facilities.
They are equipped with air conditioning and a cooling and heating system for patient comfort, as well as a toilet and kitchen.
Salisbury's unit regularly goes to places like Westbury, Fordingbridge and Gillingham, to save people from having to come into the Odstock site.
Fundraising is currently underway to provide the trust with a brand-new unit this year.
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Stacey Hunter added:
“This mobile unit makes such a massive difference to people as they don’t have to trek to the hospital – it’s a service we can deliver in a really different way and I know patients hugely appreciate it.”
Tina Seymour, Hope for Tomorrow chief executive said:
“The mobile units allow cancer patients to have their treatment in a much more convenient way, taking away the disruption that long journeys can bring. They tell us that it makes a huge difference to them and they love the friendly atmosphere provided by the NHS staff and drivers. It costs £212 a day to keep a mobile cancer care unit on the road so fundraising is vital to keep the service going.”