Cancer patients have spoken warmly about a chemotherapy day unit at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, praising its calming environment and the way it has significantly reduced travel times during treatment.
The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre, based at Friarage Hospital, has been supporting patients undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy since opening in 2018.
The purpose-built £10 million centre delivers more than 4,500 treatments each year, alongside over 200 outpatient appointments every week.
Described by patients as a “spacious haven”, the unit has become a vital service for people across Richmondshire, Hambleton and beyond.
Richmond resident Martin Wilks, 73, who is currently receiving chemotherapy for kidney cancer, said the Northallerton facility has made a huge difference to his quality of life. Having been treated for three different cancers over the past eight years, he now attends the centre once a month for treatments lasting around two hours.
“If this weren’t here, I would have had to travel quite some distance for my exhausting treatment,” he said. “Without the Friarage unit, I’d be travelling to James Cook University Hospital, which would double my journey time.
“This facility saves a lot of travel time for me. It’s a beautiful centre with lovely interiors, and that really does make a difference when you’re going through treatment.”
Others have highlighted the supportive atmosphere created by staff. Steve Port, 59, from Thirsk, was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer during a routine GP appointment in August 2025 and has been attending the centre every two weeks since.
“The interiors are so beautiful, and you can help yourself to drinks and snacks,” he said. “Not having to travel to a busy acute hospital in Middlesbrough is a huge plus for me. This centre is absolutely perfect.”
For Dianne Gregory, 69, from Middlesbrough, the centre helped ease the anxiety she felt following her diagnosis of oesophageal cancer. She particularly values the spacious layout, which allows her husband to sit beside her during treatment.
“There are just four patients in a bay, which feels quite private,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like a big hospital, and there’s a real buzz in the air. The staff are chatting and cheerful, which makes everything feel much more normal.”
Consultant oncologist Dr Kishore Kumar said the unit plays an important role in patient wellbeing. “Being able to receive treatment closer to home, in a calm and welcoming setting, takes away some of the stress that often comes with hospital visits,” he said.
“The team works incredibly hard to ensure every patient feels comfortable, supported and cared for, and that personal touch really does make a difference during what can be a very challenging time.”
