Plans to develop the new The Christie cancer centre in Macclesfield continue at pace, and local MP, David Rutley, attended an event at Macclesfield's Arighi Bianchi, to support much-needed fundraising measures to help deliver this important facility.
Planning permission for the new centre, which will bring together essential cancer services into one purpose built unit, was granted last September. The focus now turns to raising the funds needed to make this important new facility possible. Currently, more than £3 million has been donated from the local community towards the project. In total, £23 million is needed from voluntary funds to help construct the new centre, with a further £3.5 million being provided by the NHS.
At the event, representatives from The Christie, including the Clinical Lead for the new centre, Dr Andrew Sykes, set out the significant benefits the centre would have for patients in Cheshire and surrounding communities, giving them access to state-of-the-art facilities and some of the most advanced treatments available locally. This includes: radiotherapy, chemotherapy, holistic support and information services, outpatient care, palliative care and a wider range of clinical trials.
David spoke with representatives from The Christie and pledged his continued support to helping realise this important new facility for local residents. He also met with current and former patients from The Christie in Manchester, who highlighted to all those who attended the vital impact that the care and treatment that they received from the hospital has had for them and their families.
Speaking after the event, David said, "The planned new Christie cancer centre in Macclesfield will significantly transform care for local cancer patients in our communities. With planning permission granted, it is vital that we now move forward with fundraising to deliver this vital facility. I am grateful to Arighi Bianchi for hosting this event, and to all those attended and pledged their support to make this initiative a reality."