THE Gloucestershire-based cancer charity that launched the world’s first mobile chemotherapy unit has won the UK’s highest accolade for business success.

Cancer charity Hope for Tomorrow won a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the innovation category recently.

The success was in recognition of the charity’s achievements since its founder, Christine Mills MBE, set it up with the aim to bring cancer care closer to patients.

The Queen’s Awards are made annually by the Queen and are only given for the highest levels of excellence demonstrated in each category.

Hope for Tomorrow trustee Christine Mills said: “Without our very special team, including staff, supporters, patrons, trustees, the nursing teams and our partners in the NHS, we wouldn’t be here today.

“Our simple and innovative business model has enabled the public sector to adopt our Mobile Chemotherapy Units, easing pressure on Oncology Units, staff, and most importantly, patients.

“Hope for Tomorrow is delighted and honoured to have won the Queen’s Award and to be recognised for our work.

“We hope the award will help us achieve our aim of having at least one unit in every county, bringing cancer care closer to patients.”

Dr Sean Elyan, consultant oncologist and medical director of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was instrumental in helping Hope for Tomorrow set up the first mobile chemotherapy unit in Cheltenham in 2007.

On hearing of the award, he said: “I’m delighted to hear that Hope for Tomorrow has been recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, of which it is thoroughly deserving.

“The charity has achieved a huge amount through its dedication, efficiency and focus on patient centred care, increasing both capacity and flexibility of service for the NHS Trusts it partners.

“I look forward to seeing more Hope for Tomorrow Units reaching more cancer patients around the country.”

For more information visit hopefortomorrow.org.uk