Highest Accolade for Cancer Charity Hope for Tomorrow

Winner of Queen's Award for Enterprise - Innovation

GLOUCESTERSHIRE-based cancer charity Hope for Tomorrow, which launched the world's first Mobile Chemotherapy Unit (MCU) in 2007, has won a prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise, in the Innovation category.

The Award, the UK's highest accolade for business success, was made in recognition of Hope for Tomorrow's achievements since its founder, Christine Mills, MBE, set up the charity with a single aim: to bring cancer care closer to patients.

Today ten Units have been successfully launched and are in operation in partnership with NHS Trusts around the country.

They bring vital cancer treatments to patients, reducing travel, waiting times and the stresses and strains of busy hospitals.

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

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 MCU 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."