The Christie charity Impact Report 2021-22

Since 2013, The Christie has been developing its SACT (systemic anti-cancer therapy) outreach services in hospitals, hospices and health centres across Greater Manchester. SACT is treatments for cancer that uses medication and includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, bisphosphonates (drugs that help prevent and slow down bone thinning). As part of this, we began a pilot programme of local blood testing in 2019, with four clinics supporting around 200 local patients each week. Cancer patients receiving treatments need a blood test beforehand. This is to check their blood levels, how their organs are functioning and protein levels. Currently, most of our patients travel to our Withington site for blood tests. This can be hugely challenging, particularly if patients travel long distances or are feeling unwell because of treatment. Thanks to our 2019 pilot, we now plan to open 20 new clinics to reach the people most in need, hopefully reaching 1,000 people per week through the local service. In the long-term, we hope this service can be offered to all patients, including those on clinical trials. We are now working to increase our capacity by relocating and recruiting more staff. We will also need to fund more specialist equipment for taking bloods and recording results, which is being made possible thanks to the support of the charity.

THANKS TO OUR 2019 PILOT, WE NOW PLAN TO OPEN 20 NEW CLINICS TO REACH THE PEOPLE MOST IN NEED, HOPEFULLY REACHING 1,000 PEOPLE PER WEEK

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