Cancer care delivered closer to people’s homes thanks to continuing success of mobile treatment unit

Cancer care delivered closer to people’s homes thanks to continuing success of mobile treatment unit

More patients than ever before are now able to get their cancer treatment closer to home, thanks to a mobile unit.

Charity Hope for Tomorrow’s popular Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU), which is lovingly named ‘Elaine’, helped to treat an impressive 1,775 patients last year and has so far helped 1,431 people in 2019.

The unit regularly tours around Lincolnshire, offering patients undergoing treatment for cancer at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) the chance to receive more convenient care, closer to their homes. 

Lincolnshire’s MCCU was launched in April 2014 by Phil Anyon, a senior member of the Mark Masons and husband to Elaine – who the unit is named in memory of – after she sadly passed away from cancer.

Head of Fundraising at Hope for Tomorrow, Claire Cosgrove, said the team of staff at ULHT provide amazing support for the unit, which is much loved in the community it serves.

“Each week Elaine visits locations in Grantham, Louth, Spalding and Skegness, saving patients so much time in travelling,” said Claire.

“Time is at the heart of why we do what we do. We want to give cancer patients time to live life outside of cancer.

“The atmosphere and camaraderie amongst the patients, nurses and the driver is amazing and Elaine really does provide a vital service for our local communities.”

It costs around £198 per day to keep Elaine on the road, so Hope for Tomorrow is always on the lookout for donations and support.

Chantelle Dawson, Deputy Sister for the MCCU, said: “I absolutely love working on the unit – it’s a lovely environment to work in. 

“The patients think it’s fantastic because not only are they receiving their treatment but they also feel like they have their own little support group every time they come.

“There are only four chairs so the patients get the chance to really connect and I feel I have built therapeutic relationships with many of the patients who still like to pop their heads in every once in a while when the unit is nearby, even after finishing treatment. 

“I think it’s an amazing service to bring treatment closer to home for patients and I feel very proud to work alongside the Hope for Tomorrow charity which will always hold a special place in my heart.”

For more information on the role of Elaine and MCCUs, visit the Hope for Tomorrow website. You can also text MCCU to 70660 to donate £5 per month.    

Have a look at what you can expect when you visit a MCCU via this video …