Staff from Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital received a donation of specialist weighing scales, last week, from representatives of Malling Lions Club and the family of a former patient.

The equipment will be used in a new Ambulatory Day Unit in Kent Oncology Centre (KOC) for patients requiring venesections.

Lead Cancer Nurse for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), Gemma Craig, said: “Once set up, the new unit will ensure patients who require ongoing treatment regimens, supportive therapies or procedures such as venesections will be treated as day patients in a focused, friendly environment. These weighing scales will be a vital piece of equipment for the unit and we are extremely grateful to the Malling Lions Club for their generosity.”

Chris Harker, who is the President of Malling Lions Club, and a Cancer Data Analyst at MTW, said: “The Lions Club raises money for local good causes and we wanted to donate the scales, in memory of our former member, Doug Francis, who passed away last year. Doug was also active within Maidstone Hospital’s League of Friends, so it was important to us to leave a legacy from him that would benefit patients in the future.”

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