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Cancer service leaders in Highland are delighted today at the announcement that their bid for monies to support the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 'Cancer in Scotland - Action for Change' has been successful.

The bid for £1,015,000 was developed jointly by Highland NHS Board, Highland Acute Hospitals Trust, Highland Primary Care Trust and Highland Hospice and covers a wide range of service developments including the development of a dedicated and integrated breast care unit at Raigmore hospital, specialist nursing staff, pathology equipment and palliative care education and training opportunities.

The bid for cancer monies includes:
Support the development of a new integrated Breast Care Unit at Raigmore Hospital
Development of a Fast Track Rectal Bleeding Clinic at Raigmore Hospital
Developments to support the safe delivery of cytotoxic chemotherapy including. 3.5 wte nursing staff, an oncology pharmacist and other pharmacy staff.
Specialist staff to support patient care including a colorectal nurse, physiotherapist for oncology/haematology, a joint urology and gynaecology nurse specialist, radiographers and a psychologist.
A range of palliative care service developments particularly focused in the community including a Palliative Care Specialist Pharmacist, 2 Macmillan nurses, support towards a second Palliative Care Consultant, a range of training and development opportunities, Day Hospice and Family Support/Bereavement Support Services at Highland Hospice.

The bid also covers pathology equipment, audit work and support for regional and local staff to co-ordinate the development of Cancer Services and activity.

Dr John Wrench, Director of Public Health and Health Policy and Chair of the Highland Cancer Co-ordinating Group said "The monies will help us to reduce waiting times, enable us to redesign services, improve networking within and between cancer services at Highland and regional levels, improve patient support and improve access to a range of specialist services and training in the area. I'm particularly pleased that the bid has been accepted in its entirety because it supports the development of services throughout the patient journey and will aid joint working between the range of services delivering cancer services in Highland".

Dr David Whillis, Lead Clinician for Cancer with Highland Acute Hospitals Trust said "this is particularly exciting news as it will enable us to staff the new Macmillan Day Oncology Suite being built at Raigmore Hospital and to continue our progress towards much more multidisciplinary team working. It is also a great boost toward the development of a dedicated breast care unit at Raigmore Hospital".

Highland was also successful in its bid for £404,000 of national cancer monies last year for endoscopy equipment.