THE breast surgeon at the helm of a campaign to create a life-saving breast unit in Worcester has issued a passionate appeal for people to hand in outstanding funds so builders can begin work as soon as possible.

The campaign only needs £33,000 for building work to begin on the unit although charity leaders have stressed this is only an 'interim target' after hospital bosses agreed to bridge the funding gap after a certain funding threshold was reached. There will still be fundraising to do before campaigners reach a final target for the unit at 220 Newtown Road, on the site of Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Leaders at the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign now want people who may be hanging onto funds they have raised to get them in as soon as possible as this will expedite the completion of the unit and give NHS staff a state-of-the-art base where they begin their life-saving work. We have already reported how former patients, often the most outspoken campaign patrons, have died before they could see the unit open, including calendar girls Cherry Robinson and Christell O'Shea who helped launch the campaign in October 2009.

Steven Thrush, campaign trustee and consultant breast surgeon, said: "As you know, last year Harry Turner the chairman of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust publicly announced that he did not want everyone to have to wait for the start of the new breast unit until all the funds have been raised. He said that when we have raised a further £340,000 the NHS trust would make available bridging finance so that work could go ahead as soon as physically possible. We have now raised £307,000 towards that figure of £340,000.

"If anyone or any groups or organisations are holding any funds that they are waiting to hand over it would be really helpful if such funds could be remitted as soon as possible as we really need to reach this key interim target. As ever, thank you to everyone who has done so much over recent years."

Nicky Underwood, the campaign administrator, said: “The £33,000 required at this point is a key Interim target which will trigger the start of works, however the campaign will be by no means over as further funds will need to be raised to reach our target of 1.8 million.

It is an extremely exciting and crucial point we are at right now hence the need to gather every penny that has been raised so far."

The aim of the new unit is to ensure rapid efficient assessment and care, treatment in welcoming and private surroundings, facilities that will maximise the skills of specialist teams, a service which means fewer return visits with good news delivered swiftly, space for complementary therapies and support group meetings, counselling rooms for reflection and discussion, new clinical equipment, including an ultrasound machine for sole use by the breast unit and high-resolution imaging screens, flexible space for use by support groups as well as other patient activities and a prosthesis fitting room.

For more information visit www.everybodyknowssomebody.co.uk