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Treatment in Horsham would be better
A COUPLE of weeks ago I visited the Macmillan Cancer Support team at East Surrey Hospital, Redhill.
I'd taken up the offer of a visit to a centre that treats patients from the Horsham area. I wanted to learn more about the experiences of local people who have just been diagnosed with cancer, are fighting the disease or who have been given the 'all clear'.
I found a really caring and close-knit team of people who are clearly passionate about what they do.
I was able to chat to a few patients in the chemotherapy suite and they made it clear that although, of course, no one wants to be in the position of having to receive such treatment, the team made it as pleasant as possible. There really was a warm and caring atmosphere.
That can't detract from the fact that courses of chemotherapy are intensive and often lengthy. Depending on the type of chemotherapy they must receive, people from our area usually have the choice of going to East Surrey or Crawley hospitals and lots choose to go to Crawley because it's so much easier to get to.
That begs the question of why at least part of this service can't be accessed at Horsham Hospital – a place that is not only very easy for local people to get to but one that is trusted by its community.
I know that a certain amount of medical back-up is necessary when giving chemotherapy but I have written to the chief executive of NHS West Sussex to ask whether it would be possible to start a service at Horsham.
The benefits would be enormous to patients' experiences and would go some way to reducing the impact on their daily and family lives.
It would also make a difference to the people who accompany them for the long sessions. I'll let readers know the outcome of my letter.
On a completely different matter, the countdown to the next general election in underway – we know it must take place before June 3.
I'm not going to offer a mini-manifesto right here, right now – there'll be plenty of other opportunities for that – but I am going to urge anyone who hasn't registered to vote to do so right now.
It doesn't matter in which box you'll be placing your cross, it's just important that as many people as possible grasp the opportunity to exercise their democratic right.
Readers need to contact Horsham District Council to register to vote. You can call 01403 215 126 or send an email to elections@horsham.gov.uk.
You can also speak to the council if you think you might not be able to attend a polling station in person and want to apply for a postal vote.
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
