A £1million investment in the fight against lung cancer is set to benefit patients in Essex.

Part of the money will be used to improve lung cancer services at Princess Alexandra Hospital.

The money will be targeted at speeding up diagnoses, reducing waiting times and setting up a patient and relative helpline.

A spokesman for Princess Alexandra Hospital said the investment was part of moves to bring cancer services to local district hospitals rather than have them centred at larger units in London.

He said: "This lung cancer service will allow us to provide more local services in the hospital for patients with this form of cancer. There are a whole raft of services now available at Princess Alexandra and St Margaret's Hospital in Epping."

It is believed just over £50,000 will go directly to the hospital in Harlow.

This will be used to reduce waiting times for pathology and radiology test results, establish a specialist respiratory nurse role, ensure patients are seen by a chest physician within 10 days, and set up the helpline for patients and their relatives.

Ongar MP Eric Pickles gave the investment news a cautious welcome. He said: "Clearly any additional money to help treat and fight cancer is very welcome, but £1m for the whole of the Eastern region is not going to go very far at all."

The latest statistics show that in 1997, 2,622 people of all ages died from lung cancer in the Eastern region.

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