PLANS for a £10m cancer treatment centre in Northallerton have been described as a vote of confidence in the Friarage Hospital's long-term future.
Richmond MP Rishi Sunak said the announcement about the centre was a tremendous boost for those who have campaigned to retain services at the much-loved hospital.
He said: "Fears are regularly expressed about the future of the hospital and that is understandable given past events.
"But this demonstrates a long-term commitment by the South Tees Hospitals Trust to delivering services here in Northallerton and that is very good news."
The MP, who has campaigned to protect services at the North Yorkshire hospital since he was elected in 2015, said the centre was one of a number of recent developments at the Friarage which demonstrated health chiefs' commitment to the Northallerton site.
These included the opening of the innovative ambulatory care unit, which reduced the need for overnight stays, the plans to improve the A&E department's service by recruiting GPs to help treat patients more quickly at weekends and work starting on the hospital's new MRI scanner.
North Yorkshire-based philanthropist Sir Robert Ogden is jointly funding the project with Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan worked with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop the proposals which require planning permission from Hambleton District Council.
The centre, which will cost in the region of £10 million, will be housed in a purpose-built building. The facilities for patients, carers and relatives will include:
• A chemotherapy treatment lounge with capacity to treat up to 35 patients a day
• Complementary therapy facilities
• Treatment and consulting rooms
• A Macmillan cancer information and support centre
• Supporting accommodation (including telemedicine facilities)
Mr Sunak said the downgrading of the Friarage Hospital's consultant-led maternity and paediatric services in 2014, which were opposed by his predecessor William Hague, had led to fears about other services at the hospital.
"We need to be constantly vigilant about the Friarage but this announcement is very encouraging for those who want great health services delivered locally.”