Health Secretary Sajid Javid has officially opened the Northern Centre for Cancer Care – housed in the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

Last year, the government announced details of 40 new hospitals to be built by 2030. Together with eight schemes which secured investment through the previous government, of which this hospital is one, this will mean 48 hospitals in total will be delivered by the end of the decade.

The new £35 million facility visited by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care today will be used by patients from across north, west and east Cumbria, making it one of the biggest combined cancer treatment services in the country.

The hospital brings new, cutting-edge services under one roof in north Cumbria for the first time including a chemotherapy day unit, radiotherapy machines and a CT scanner as well as outpatients, consultation and examination rooms. The new facilities means most adult cancer patients in Cumbria will be able to receive care close to home, rather than having to travel.

The hospital welcomed its first patients last week, and expects to receive 1,200 new patients a year in addition to the 2,000 patients already set to receive treatment or follow-up care at the new centre.

More details can be seen here.

Javid said: “I am incredibly honoured to open this cancer hospital in Carlisle, which will support thousands of people by bringing these vital services under one roof, as part of our commitment to deliver 48 hospitals by 2030, backed by an initial £3.7 billion.

“Cancer diagnosis and treatment is a top priority and I am committed to tackling the backlogs caused by this pandemic. The NHS is here for everyone and I look forward to seeing how the hospital will help to diagnose and treat cancer patients across Cumbria by levelling up cancer care in the region.”