Community hospital offers chemotherapy for first time

A community hospital in West Somserset has begun offering chemotherapy for the first time.

The NHS Somerset Foundation Trust said it is able to take advantage of unused clinical space at Williton Community Hospital and offer the service once a week.

It means cancer patients in in the area will only need to visit Taunton for their first two doses of chemotherapy.

The trust said its service in the village has already been a success, and may be widened out in the future.

"We realised we were missing a cohort of patients in the West Somerset area... it's literally taken off," Nurse Emma Wells-Burr told the BBC.

"We are choc-a-block... we're full up.

"It saves patients coming into Taunton and having to pay the parking prices - they get free parking at that community hospital.

"We utilising the hospital's spaces that were used for other things pre-Covid."

She added: "This will make a massive difference for our patients."

Patient Stephen Webb said he attends the clinic in Williton twice a week for about 90 minutes to recieve treatment.

"It saves a lot of time... it's only half a mile away.

"I'm back home between 12 and 1pm, whereas with Taunton it was 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

"And it does save me a lot in fuel... it's cheaper for me financially and it's quicker, easier and more relaxing really."

Mr Webb said the care he has recieved is "fantastic", adding he gets a cup of tea and some lunch while recieving his treatment.

"They've definitely saved my life, and it has been prolonged."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.