Tenovus mobile unit (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Tenovus mobile unit

October 16, 2009 12:00 AM
By Kirsty Williams AM in Local Beacon 16th October 2009

1 in 3 of us will face the terrible battle with cancer during our lifetime. Thanks to dedicated research many forms of the disease are now more treatable and patients can make full recoveries. But those of us who have had cancer or who know friends or relatives who have, know all too well, the road to recovery can be a very difficult one.

Chemotherapy can be a highly effective treatment, but can also cause side effects such as nausea and fatigue. For many Powys patients, these symptoms are worsened by the difficulty of travelling long distances for treatment. Between 2003 and 2007, 671 Powys residents needed chemotherapy, only 7 of whom got it in county. Ill Patients are forced to undertake arduous journeys as far as Aberystwyth, Hereford, Cardiff or Swansea. The average journey length for Powys residents was a 75mile round trip, but some patients were travelling over 100 miles.

This year, the cancer charity Tenovus launched their new Mobile Cancer Support Unit. The bus provides treatment and support to patients closer to their homes. Presently, the Mobile Unit visits various locations in the South Wales Valleys, working in partnership with the NHS to give patients their chemotherapy in comfortable, non threatening conditions. There is also the chance to get advice on living with cancer, including counselling, wig fitting and benefits advice, with support for Carers as well.

I have met with Tenovus several times to discuss having a similar service here in Powys and I am lobbying local health officials and the Health Minister to bring cancer treatment closer to Powys patient's homes; to at least ease some of the pressure on them at such a difficult time.