The team is currently treating over 360 patients and in January 2022, carried out around 500 appointments including compassionate visits such as taking blood or supporting with PICC line care. Patients currently eligible for treatment at home include some breast cancer patients and some patients being treated for other forms of cancer including skin cancer and lung cancer. It is hoped some patients being treated for certain types of blood cancer will also soon be able to receive their treatments from the Clatterbridge in the Community service too.

The Clatterbridge in the Community Team has previously only operated out of the Trust’s Wirral site, meaning nurses would have to travel long distances to treat patients north of Liverpool. The new base will mean nurses can reach patients more quickly, allowing them to see more patients in their own home.

Expanding the community service so that more patients from north Merseyside can receive their treatment at home will also benefit The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s chemotherapy clinic in the Marina Dalglish Centre at Aintree University Hospital. It will mean the clinic has more capacity to treat those patients who are unable to have treatment at home.

As well as their new base, the team has increased the number of expert nurses within the team and invested in a number of hybrid, energy efficient vehicles to get to appointments.

Claire Bennett is the Clatterbridge in the Community Service Manager for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust. She said:

“Our new Clatterbridge in the Community Hub at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Aintree will be a massive boost to our service and our patients as it will allow us to treat many more people in north Liverpool and beyond.

“At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, our aim is that none of our patients should have to travel more than 45 minutes for their treatment. Not only does treating patients in their own home eliminate the need for travel altogether, it frees up capacity in our clinics for those patients unable to have treatment at home or would prefer to be in a clinical setting.

Ruth Hislop from Whitchurch in Cheshire has been receiving treatment for skin cancer in her own home since 2020. She couldn’t drive after surgery affected the sight in her left eye. She says: “Clatterbridge in the Community has saved my family and me from worrying about having to find someone to drive me 45 minutes each way to my nearest treatment centre.

“My husband can be near me whilst I have my immunotherapy in familiar surroundings and I always feels secure in the knowledge that my nurses are very well trained and fully equipped to look after me.

“It’s great getting to build that relationship with my nurses who are more than happy to talk through any worries I have and give me any reassurance during treatment.

“It’s amazing that more people are going to benefit from this one-on-one care with such professional and caring cancer nurses.”

Find out more about The Clatterbridge Centre here.