08.05.13
New specialist blood therapy ‘making a difference’ in Bristol
Cancer patients will benefit from a specialist treatment introduced in Bristol, NHS Blood & Transplant (NHS BT) has announced. Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) therapy was previously only available in London.
In partnership with University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, NHS BT have opened a new clinic which extracts white blood cells, treats them with ultraviolet light, and returns the cells to the patient.
The two-day treatment helps patients with conditions commonly associated with cancer.
Catherine Howell, chief nurse of patient services at NHSBT, said: “So far in Bristol we have carried out 167 treatments on 17 different patients since September 2012. This service is already making a huge difference to patients’ lives in the South West and we hope it will change the lives of many more.
”The new treatment being offered at our Bristol unit is in response to the growing needs of patients in the region. We are pleased to be able to offer such a specialist service and to be supported by the South West Specialised Commissioners and work collaboratively with the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Clinical Haematology and Dermatology Departments.
“Although we may be better known for our work with blood and organ donation, this is just one of many therapies we offer to those with rare disorders thanks to the dedication of our expert teams across the country.”
Dr Stephen Robinson, consultant haematologist and lead clinician at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at UH Bristol, said: “This service development represents a major step forward in the delivery of care to bone marrow transplant patients throughout the South West and will significantly improve their quality of life.”
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