Local MP Steve Brine visited the largest single site cancer centre in Europe, as he met with clinicians from The Christie, in Manchester, on Monday 2nd October.
Mr Brine, who is Public Health Minister, met with senior directors to discuss the Cancer Vanguard, Advanced Treatment Trials and the National Proton Centre Development. The NPCD is due to open in August 2018, and will be the first such centre in the UK, as currently patients needing the treatment need to travel abroad.
The Christie treats more than 44,000 patients a year, and also became the first UK centre to be officially accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre. As part of the NHS, The Christie provides radiotherapy, chemotherapy, highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancers and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. It serves a population of 3.2 million people across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, while 26% of its patients are referred from across the UK.
Steve Brine said: "It was a real pleasure to visit The Christie, and the new proton centre will be the first for this incredible technology in England. Cancer survival rates are at a record high and NHS England has estimated 7,000 more people are surviving cancer after successful NHS cancer treatment compared to three years ago.
"But we know there is more to do, and NHS England is leading the health and care system in implementing the recommendations of the independent Cancer Taskforce to save a further 30,000 lives a year by 2020.
"I very much look forward to visiting The Christie again when the NPCD opens its doors next summer."
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