CANCER patients in Worcestershire could have access to radiotherapy in the county for the first time by 2009.

The cancer team at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has announced that it is to put in a bid for funding for two radiotherapy machines at a satellite site either to be at Worcestershire Royal Hospital or at the Alexandra Hospital. At the moment, patients have to travel miles to go to Cheltenham, Wolverhampton or Coventry for treatment.

The cost of building the new unit - which would be a kind of concrete bunker to stop radiation escaping - would be around £2.5m, but the machines are usually centrally funded.

Members of the Trust's cancer team have already met with patient groups to outline their plans, and chief executive John Rostill is hoping that widespread local support will strengthen the Trust's case.

"We could provide treatment for 80 per cent of the people in Worcestershire who currently have to make round trips of 80 miles or more, often several times a week, at a time when they need and deserve treatment as close to home as possible," he said. "We already deliver high quality cancer care to patients from across the county who need surgery, chemotherapy or other treatments, and if we can add radiotherapy to that range of services, it will be of enormous value to our patients.

"Obviously other Trusts within the network - like Hereford and Cheltenham - will also be interested in bidding for these services, but I believe our excellent cancer care, our location and the needs of the community we serve will combine to make a compelling case in our favour."

Recovered cancer patient Meryl Fisher, from Stourport-on-Severn, who clocked up hundreds of miles travelling to and from Wolverhampton every day for five weeks for her radiotherapy treatment in 2004, said it was excellent news.

"It's what people like me have been asking for a long time," she said. "There is no doubt that everyone is going to be backing the Acute Trust in their bid.

"It really would make such a difference, not only to miles travel, but also to expenditure and most of all stress levels."