Islwyn Member of Parliament Chris Evans has called on the local health board to give more support for a cancer charity’s mobile care units.
Mr Evans has written to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board after he visited one of Tenovus’ units at Blackwood Gate Retail Park on Friday, July 7.
The Tenovus Mobile Support Units offer a range of cancer treatments including chemotherapy, lymphoedema treatment and counselling services.
The recent visit of the unit was arranged by Libanus Lifestyle – a community interest company based at Libanus Chapel in Blackwood.
Karen James, director of Libanus Lifestyle, said: “We have set up the Blackwood Friends of Tenovus Cancer Care and we want to set up more free health checks that people can come along to.”
Mr Evans said: “I was very impressed by Tenovus and their mobile cancer support unit. The last thing those suffering as a result of cancer want is to travel miles and miles to get the treatment and support they need.
“Tenovus bring cancer care directly into communities, so that thousands of people can get treatment much closer to home than if they had to go to hospital. Wales can and should lead the way by giving extra support to projects like this.”
Tenovus Cancer Care launched their first mobile support unit in 2009, and have since provided nearly 25,000 treatments to more than 5,000 patients.
They have two units but are seeking to expand their fleet to offer more treatments across Wales.
The charity’s aim is to bring treatment closer to home for those with cancer and their families by parking in a different location across Wales each day.