Christie centre’s treatment boost

RADIOTHERAPY patients in Oldham are getting the life-saving treatment they need thanks to the Christie at Oldham centre.

Figures from a national newspaper claimed that just 44 per cent of cancer patients eligible for radiotherapy in Greater Manchester received treatment.

This placed the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network (GMCCN) 22nd out of 28 cancer networks across the country for life-saving treatment.

But a spokesman for the GMCCN said the figures were almost two years old and that the Christie at Oldham satellite centre, which opened in March, 2010, would boost this year’s figures.

He said: “Radiotherapy is an important part of treatment for many patients affected by cancer, although not everyone will benefit from it.

“These figures cover the period from April, 2009, to March, 2010, since when more radiotherapy capacity has been opened across the cancer network, including the satellite centre in Oldham.

“This centre and the recently opened centre in Salford provide a significant increase in the amount of radiotherapy capacity.

“And the cancer network is continuing to work with its partners to provide more capacity in future.

“We expect that this will improve figures in years to come.”