WORK is set to start in April on The Christie's new cancer centre in Cheshire.

Demolition work will begin shortly to prepare the way for construction of a new two-storey building to house the proposed Christie at Macclesfield cancer centre.

The Christie at Macclesfield will transform cancer care in Cheshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire and parts of North Staffordshire, providing care closer to home for more than 1,500 existing Christie patients a year.

It will bring together essential cancer services into one purpose-built centre, delivering local specialist access to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, holistic support and information services, outpatient care, palliative care and a wider range of clinical trials. Around 20,000 appointments per year will take place at the new centre.

The plans for the new cancer centre at Macclesfield District General Hospital were approved by East Cheshire Council in September.

Northwich Guardian:

An illustration of the proposed cancer centre

Work on the cancer centre is expected to be completed next summer, and open for patients in autumn 2021.

Dr Andrew Sykes, director of clinical oncology and clinical lead for The Christie at Macclesfield, said: “It’s exciting that our team can get started on site and move us a big step closer to this project reaching fruition.

"Lots of people have said how much they want The Christie at Macclesfield and fundraising for the project is gathering momentum but we still need to raise almost £20 million. The new centre will deliver cancer care to the highest Christie standards, but closer to where patients live.

“Many patients currently travel to The Christie in South Manchester for their appointments, with long journey times putting tremendous pressure on patients and their families at an already stressful time.”

Planning for the new centre has taken into account East Cheshire’s ageing population and the predicted increase in demand for specialist cancer services in future years. Patients identified as being frail will receive additional support.

For details of how you can support The Christie Cancer Centre at Macclesfield fundraising appeal, go to christies.org/macclesfield