New £7million cancer unit planned for West Berkshire hospital

A charity has revealed plans for a £7.2m cancer treatment unit at West Berkshire Community Hospital.

Newbury and District Cancer Care Trust’s ambitious project aims to site the chemotherapy and radiotherapy facilities, to include a day unit and CT scanner, at the London Road hospital over the next three to five years.

The cancer charity was set up in 1984 with the aim of helping local people diagnosed with cancer, by offering practical help, including transportation to treatment and loans for equipment such as wheelchairs.

The community hospital, officially opened in October 2004 by Princess Anne, combined the services previously offered at the now-defunct Newbury and Sandleford Hospitals and is in the process of siting a renal dialysis unit, expected to be finished before the end of the year.

Speaking of the need for the facilities, trust chairman David Ball said: “We have already identified the need. Just consider the number of patients that our transport service takes to Reading and Oxford – patients that could be treated locally if the facilities and staff were available.

“We have already engaged with most, if not all, key decision-makers within the NHS and have won their almost unqualified support, although there are still many details to iron out before it becomes a viable project.

“We are confident we can raise the money and we have already received significant pledges of support from within our community.”

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