Macclesfield to have a Christie Hospital

Image: Macclesfield’s planned Christie cancer treatment hospital

A £26 million fundraising appeal has been launched by Manchester’s Christie Hospital to provide a new cancer treatment centre in the grounds of Macclesfield District General Hospital.

Doctors at the world-renowned specialist cancer-treatment hospital, The Christie, say the new unit will ‘transform cancer care in East Cheshire’ by giving specialist access to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, outpatient and palliative care and clinical trials. There’ll also be holistic support, counselling and information services with patients being the first in the country to access new treatments.

The Consultant clinical oncologist and the lead doctor for the project, Dr Andrew Sykes, said: “Whilst patients and families are prepared to travel for specialist services, we also understand that in reality many would prefer to have those services locally. It saves valuable time and money and can make a difficult time much easier. The new centre in Macclesfield will provide the highest standard of cancer care, but far closer to home.”

Some cancer care is available already at Macclesfield Hospital but many patients have the majority of treatment at the Christie, in south Manchester, meaning a journey of up to two hours.

It is expected the new centre would have 40,000 patient visits annually, give 15,000 radiotherapy treatments and 4,000 chemotherapy. Each new person referred would have a predicted average of 25 appointments. Patients would come from Cheshire, North Staffordshire and the High Peak.

Staff planned for the site include dietitians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiographers, nurses, dementia and social care specialists as well as doctors.