CANCER patients living in the Ludgershall area will be able to have chemotherapy treatment closer to home after an expansion in the Mobile Chemotherapy Unit (MCU) service.

The MCU, which was provided and is maintained by national charity Hope for Tomorrow, has previously operated between Fordingbridge, Westbury and Gillingham or Shaftesbury over three days a week. The MCU will now run four days of the week and be based at Castle Practice, Ludgershall every Friday.

Sara Dear, sister for the Salisbury District Hospital MCU said: “Some of our patients who need chemotherapy and related treatments have to travel significant distances each day, so this is excellent news for those from east Wiltshire who are suitable for the MCU.

“The MCU provides a friendly and quiet environment closer to home and has delivered over 250 treatments for patients since it first started in 2011. We want to maximise its use for suitable patients, which is why we are expanding the number of locations we now visit in Wiltshire.”

Christine Mills, Founder of Hope for Tomorrow said: “We are delighted that Salisbury District Hospital will now be taking their Mobile Chemotherapy Unit to Ludgershall on a weekly basis. This will mean so much to cancer patients in the area who are able to use it. Not only will it save them long journeys to the Pembroke Unit, but will also provide a restful environment for them to receive treatment in.”