A MOBILE cancer treatment unit named “Maureen” is celebrating its first successful year in operation.

The East Essex Mobile Chemotherapy Unit was launched in July 2016 and has reached patients in Stanway, Tiptree, Halstead and Clacton.

The lifesaving unit was named Maureen in memory of Maureen Dore, a nurse and cancer patient who died in 2010.

She was a dedicated supporter of Hope for Tomorrow, the charity committed to bringing the mobile units to patients across the country.

In its first year, Maureen has saved patients from travelling more than 72,000 miles and 5,400 hours.

A celebration was held at Colchester General Hospital to mark the anniversary, with the Mayor of Colchester, patients, staff and supporters turning out to praise the unit’s contribution.

Claire Cosgrove, head of fundraising at Hope for Tomorrow, said: “After such a fantastic first year of being in operation, it was wonderful to share the first birthday with all that have been on this journey with us and making it possible.

“With more than 500 patients treated on board our East Essex MCU in the last quarter, we are thrilled that we are enabling this number of patients to be treated closer to home.”

Hope for Tomorrow launched the world’s first ever Mobile Chemotherapy Unit in 2007, aiming to bring vital cancer care closer to patients.

Claire added: “We develop, build, provide and maintain these units to support patients who are going through chemotherapy by alleviating the stresses and strains of travelling for appointments, along with reducing hospital waiting times.

“Working in a unique partnership with the NHS, we now have 13 MCUs operational, with two reserves in place to ensure continuity of service during the maintenance schedule.”

Lesley Sheen, chemotherapy nurse consultant at Colchester Hospital, said: “Over the past 12 months, there has been more than 1,000 episodes of care provided on the Mobile Chemotherapy Unit, mostly chemotherapy but also other procedures, such as blood tests and PICC line care.

“The feedback from the patients has been very positive, with some of them reporting that travelling locally for treatment on Maureen takes up to three hours less than it would if they had to travel to and from Colchester General Hospital.

“When we started, we thought that some patients might be apprehensive that health care was being delivered away from an acute hospital, but they are very confident in the services that are provided on the unit.”

Since 2007 the charity has saved patients more than 2,000,000 miles and over 170,000 hours of travel and waiting time.

The charity won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2016.

The Innovation award is the UK’s highest accolade for business success and was presented in recognition of the charity’s achievements since its foundation in 2003.