Mobile chemotherapy unit opens its doors to the public

Nurses from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, one of the UK’s largest networked cancer centres, opened the doors to its mobile chemotherapy unit to the all-girls school, informing Year 12 pupils about skin, breast and cervical cancers and how to detect early signs and symptoms.

The girls took to a tour of the mobile chemotherapy unit, which was specially designed by EMS-Healthcare to meet The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s requirements. It is the first of its kind in England operated by the NHS, treating up to 25 patients per day. There has been a significant increase in patients across Cheshire and Merseyside accessing chemotherapy closer to home in the seven months in which the unit has been up and running.

Keen to dispel myths about cancer, specialist cancer nurses used bespoke equipment to demonstrate to the Upton Hall pupils how to check breasts for lumps and used a prosthetic arm to show how a cannula is inserted in preparation for chemotherapy. The nurses also spoke about the different types of wigs available to cancer patients who lose their hair as a side effect of chemotherapy.

Kim Barrow, head of chemotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre commented: “We’re incredibly proud of our mobile chemotherapy unit and its successes to date and want to make the most of this fantastic asset, even when it is not treating patients. It’s great to be able to show members of the community the state-of-the-art facilities we have and how we support cancer patients and their families.”

Keith Austin, CEO at EMS Healthcare said: “We’re delighted to see the use of this specialist facility extended to further support the community. It has so far been immensely successful, administering chemotherapy to patients away from a hospital setting, and the project which was set to run for six months has now been extended.

“The flexibility and mobility of the unit means that it can further support The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre as it looks to raise awareness of cancer in the wider community.”

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is hoping to carry out similar events with other schools, businesses and in city centres in Cheshire and Merseyside.

Key facts

• A state-of-the-art mobile chemotherapy facility, supplied by EMS-Healthcare, has been supporting the delivery of treatment in the community, and is now helping to educate pupils at Upton Hall School FCJ about some of the most common types of cancer
• Nurses from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, have been informing pupils about skin, breast and cervical cancers and how to detect early signs and symptoms
• The girls took a tour of the mobile chemotherapy unit, which was specially designed by EMS-Healthcare to meet The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s requirements
• It is the first of its kind in England operated by the NHS, treating up to 25 patients per day
• There has been a significant increase in patients across Cheshire and Merseyside accessing chemotherapy closer to home in the seven months in which the unit has been up and running