A NEW £200,000 CANtreat chemotherapy unit was officially opened at Halton Hospital this week by Lady Daresbury.

Around 30 patients a day are now treated for their tumours in a bright, modern clinic in Runcorn.

Karen Mason, cancer lead manager for Warrington and Halton Hospitals, said: “The new unit is fantastic.

“Patients can come in, see the doctor, have their bloods taken and then receive their treatment in comfort.

“It’s purpose built for their needs. It’s close to where they live which means that we can make what can be a very difficult course of treatment much easier.”

The unit, in the former critical care area of the hospital, is run by nurses and consultants from Clatterbridge.

The drugs are prepared at Clatterbridge and brought to Halton for each clinic.

Kim Barrow, chemotherapy clinical services manager at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, said: “This is such an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with our colleagues to ensure that patients are treated locally to where they live while ensuring they receive their treatments from chemotherapy experts.”

More than £100,000 of the project was raised by the charity CANtreat.

Chris Eyres, from CANtreat, said: “Our aim is to improve the environment in which patients receive their chemotherapy to give them a positive attitude in fighting the disease.”

A new complementary therapies suite is being created in the old smaller chemotherapy room at the Delamere Centre.