New cancer centre a 'lifeline' for community

The Middlesbrough centre was officially opened on Wednesday (pictured L-R are Maggie's chief executive Dame Laura Lee, chair Stuart Gulliver, University Hospitals Tees chief executive Stacey Hunter and Rob Harrison, interim chief executive, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Cancer patients have welcomed the opening of a new charity support centre closer to home.

Maggie's has opened in the grounds of James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, and will provide help and support to patients and their families.

Previously, people had to travel to its centre in Newcastle, which is about 31 miles away (55km).

Karen Redfearn, 53, from Guisborough, said the centre there had been "invaluable" but having local access was "essential".

The centre was officially opened on Wednesday.

Ms Redfearn, who was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer in January and secondary breast cancer in July, said: "I have found Maggie's in Newcastle invaluable - it's a place that catches you when you fall out of all the appointments and treatments, trying to understand what is happening to you.

"Having their support closer to home will be essential for me, but also for those who are not able to travel to Newcastle."

'Making connections'

Rachel Hanley, from Middlesbrough, who is living with secondary breast cancer, said after her stage 4 diagnosis in 2017 she "found a safe space" at the Newcastle centre.

But she added: "Newcastle is quite far away from where I live, so to have a Maggie's in Middlesbrough will be an absolute lifeline.

"I look forward to making connections to others in my community."

The centre will work closely with staff at the James Cook University Hospital. In partnership with Trinity Holistic Centre, it will deliver expert psychological, emotional and practical support.

Charity chair Stuart Gulliver said: "With the number of people receiving a cancer diagnosis set to grow even further over the next decade, the need for a Maggie's is even more important.

"We are on a mission to ensure that everyone impacted by cancer in the UK can access the emotional and practical support they need."