The mobile healthcare unit in Guildford is designed to offer cancer patients the option of receiving treatment “without having to visit hospital”, Lloydspharmacy said in a statement issued last week (February 26).

The purpose-built unit was opened last week (February 26) by Dame Judi Dench and offers treatments including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, administered by nurses from Lloydspharmacy Clinical Homecare.

Facilities in the mobile unit – provided by cancer charity Tenovus – include seven chemotherapy chairs, a therapy room, waiting area, a kitchen and bathrooms. It features “the same equipment available at the main hospital sites”, including cold caps to reduce hair loss, Lloydspharmacy said.

Once the unit is operating at full capacity, it is expected treat around 80 of the 500 cancer patients Royal Surrey currently sees per week.

Patients will only be considered for the mobile unit once they have undergone two treatments at the hospital, to “ensure their consultant can address any side effects that may occur”.

The service consists of up to five sessions, lasting at most three hours each time.

“Vital treatment for patients”

Alison Ansell, healthcare development manager at Lloydspharmacy, said: “We understand that going through treatment can be a stressful time for patients, so providing alternative options where they have that treatment can help them feel more in control. Whether it’s in hospital or in a mobile unit, people should be able to choose to receive their care in an environment they feel most comfortable.

“We are incredibly proud to be working with Royal Surrey to provide this vital treatment for their patients and we hope that by working together we can release capacity for the hospital and most importantly, improve the patient experience.”

The service forms part of Lloydspharmacy's Healthcare Centre concept, which launched in 2017 with the objective to “help NHS trusts provide more treatments outside of an acute hospital setting” and give patients a wider range of treatments options.

Lloydspharmacy said the concept was launched “with a vision of delivering more treatment through community pharmacy and bringing care closer to patients’ homes”.

The multiple added that the “Lloydspharmacy healthcare centres model is designed to give patients an alternative to traditional treatment settings, which would usually be at home or in a hospital”.

The mobile cancer unit at Royal Surrey is the fourth Lloydspharmacy Healthcare Centre to date, adding to existing centres in Scunthorpe, Cardiff and Harrow.