A LAW firm has made a generous donation to help support the provision of Dorset County Hospital’s cancer services. 

Battens Solicitors’ Charitable Trust donated £1,000 to the hospital’s Cancer Appeal, which hopes to raise £1.75 million to support a new dedicated radiotherapy service for the hospital.

The service will provide treatment and support to more than 5,000 cancer patients and their families from north, south and west Dorset every year, including some patients from the Yeovil area who currently have to travel to Taunton for treatment. 

It will be run from a new building at Dorset County Hospital and will house a dedicated cancer outpatients unit complete with private rooms for consultations, counselling, and alternative therapies.

Simon Pearson, head of fundraising for Dorset County Hospital Charity, said: “We are very grateful for the generous donation from the Battens Charitable Trust in support of our Cancer Appeal. 

“Thanks to their support we have moved one step closer to achieving our aim of building a world class cancer unit at Dorset County Hospital.” 

Ray Edwards, a director at Battens Solicitors and a trustee of its Charitable Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been able to donate £1,000 to the Cancer Appeal. Our thanks go out to everyone who has supported our Charitable Trust.

"Without the generosity of the people who donate to it, we would not be able to help fantastic causes like this Cancer Appeal.” 

With help from a legacy worth £10m from Poole businessman Robert White, Poole Hospital has pledged £7.4 million to fund the construction of the radiotherapy unit and the purchase of two Linear Accelerator radiotherapy machines (LINACs) which will be central to the treatment cancer patients will receive.

The centre will be based at Dorset County Hospital and operated by Poole Hospital’s cancer care team.

The money raised by the Cancer Appeal will also go towards overhauling Dorset County Hospital’s Chemotherapy department, so as to provide space for friends and families to sit with loved ones.

It is thought this new space will be a huge benefit to patients needing support during their chemotherapy because currently friends and relatives have to wait elsewhere in the hospital until treatment is over.

Battens Solicitors’ Charitable Trust was set up in 1985 to support local initiatives, charities and other worthy causes and has donated more than £500,000 to good causes in just over 20 years.