Patients to benefit from new cancer unit

Cancer patients from areas near Newtown could benefit from a new purpose built chemotherapy unit being established.

Nearly £200,000 has been ear-marked by the Mid Wales Scanner and Cancer Appeal to boost a scheme to set up a state-of-the-art cancer treatment unit at Aberystwyth.

Many cancer patients from south and west of Newtown are sent to Bronglais Hospital for such treatment.

The appeal, launched in 1989 by the then Ceredigion MP Geraint Howells, has already funded a whole body CT scanner at Bronglais Hospital plus equipment for its Meurig Ward.

Now the appeal committee has pledged the £193,000 left in its fund towards a proposed scheme to set up a purpose-built chemotherapy unit providing palliative care at Bronglais.

The unit would also include patient video conferencing facilities linked to a major centre in Swansea and avoid travelling issues.

The hospital’s existing restricted chemotherapy unit already holds around £250,000 charitable funds and the appeal committee unanimously approved a proposal by Geraint Howells’ widow, Lady Olwen Howells, “to commit its residual funds to  the development of a new chemotherapy unit at Bronglais”.

Committee treasurer Emyr James said the commitment will last for two years after which it will be reviewed to assess the progress made in providing the proposed development at that time.

Locum consultant oncologist at Bronglais, Dr Elin Jones, recently told the committee suitable areas at the hospital had been identified for the new unit but no final decision had yet been made about its location so the total cost cannot be provided at this stage.

Newly-elected chairman Dr Alan Axford said over recent years opportunities to use the remaining funds had been investigated by the committee’s executive members but no project had fitted well with the appeal’s trust deed until now.