YORKSHIRE’S first mobile chemotherapy unit has been launched in Ryedale.

Commissioned by the charity York Against Cancer, the new unit, which was unveiled at Malton and Norton Rugby Club, will serve patients of the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The £700,000 unit gives patients from outlying areas, who would otherwise travel to the trust’s main hospitals in York or Scarborough, the chance to be treated closer to home.

It will also ensure capacity at the main hospitals for longer or more complex procedures.

Patients under the care of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who meet a number of strict criteria, will be offered chemotherapy treatment on the mobile unit, which will be staffed by highly trained specialist nurses.

Rob Holtby, a 67-year-old farmer from Leavening, has prostate cancer and currently travels to Scarborough for chemotherapy.

A former steward at Malton and Norton Rugby Club, he still looks after the pitch at the club, which will be one of the regular ports of call for the chemotherapy unit. Rob said: “The nurses in Scarborough are brilliant, they are very good to you, but it is a stressful thing that you are having done.

“You try to look on the bright side but you do get a bit down and being able to come somewhere like this will be a lot less stress - travelling home can take an hour for me with the traffic.

“This is great for everybody - it will be brilliant.”

The unit has been donated as part of events to mark York Against Cancer’s 30th anniversary year.

The charity has also launched a £100,000 appeal to help support the running of the unit.

Patrick Crowley, chief executive, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that we have launched our first mobile chemotherapy unit and hope, that as a result, patients with cancer throughout North Yorkshire will feel the benefits from receiving their treatment closer to home.

“York Against Cancer already provides some invaluable services for our patients and we are incredibly grateful that they have given us this opportunity.”

The unit will call at Malton, Selby, Scarborough and Bridlington.