A CANCER survivor from Chard said a weekly mobile chemotherapy unit introduced in the town will make a “huge difference” to other people needing treatment in the area.

The Hope for Tomorrow charity and Musgrove Park Hospital launched the unit at Tesco with the aim of eliminating the stress of travelling, parking and waiting for patients.

Jill White believes it will have a significant impact on patients from Chard.

She said: “I’m so pleased that it has come to Chard. Having been through the painstaking journey I know how tiring, time-consuming and expensive travelling to Taunton is.

“For an 11am appointment I would have to leave Chard at 9am and wouldn’t get home until 4pm.

“It’s brilliant to have it in Chard now and it will make such a positive difference to patients that will not have to go all the way to Musgrove for treatment.”

Patients being treated at the hospital, who meet a criteria related to their condition and treatment plan are offered chemotherapy treatment at the mobile unit.

The unit, named ‘Bumble’ after charity patron Lady Susie Moss’s mother, will be staffed by specialist nurses from the hospital on a weekly basis every Tuesday.

It costs Hope for Tomorrow £260,000 to build and maintain a Mobile Chemotherapy Unit for three years.

The charity receives no Government funding and is completely reliant on voluntary donations.

Sir Stirling and Lady Moss, patrons of Hope for Tomorrow said: “We are thrilled that the Somerset Mobile Chemotherapy Unit ‘Bumble’ will be giving treatment at Chard allowing more patients locally to benefit from having their chemotherapy closer to home.

“It’s been a long time coming and good on Tesco for allowing it to be put in the store car park.”