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Former sports editor fighting cancer campaigns for better treatment

Trevor FrecknallA former regional daily sports editor suffering from cancer is campaigning to get better treatment for others closer to his home.

Trevor Frecknall, left, who worked at the Nottingham Post, is currently faced with driving himself 190 miles a fortnight to undergo chemotherapy treatment in either Sutton-in-Ashfield or Nottingham.

Trevor, 72, is set to personally present his local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group with his story in a bid to get the same services brought to Newark Hospital, which is closer to his home in the village of North Muskham.

He has been invited to present his case to the governors of the NHS Newark and Sherwood CCG at a meeting on 27 April.

Referring to the end-of-treatment removal of drugs access catheters, Trevor said: “Picc Line flushing is one of those things that could easily be carried out at Newark, but that hospital is 50pc underused, which is criminal when so-called super-hospitals are understaffed yet over-populated by people like me.”

After six chemotherapy sessions a CT scan showed his tumour had shrunk by one third, and he has embarked on a further series of treatments.

Dr Amanda Sullivan, chief officer for both the Newark and Sherwood and Mansfield and Ashfield CCGs, said: “With regards the provision of chemotherapy at Newark Hospital, the feasibility of this is an area that will be looked at in more detail, as well as procedures such as flushing lines.

“I have a great deal of sympathy for Mr Frecknall’s situation and will seek to influence and change care provision where this is within my power, taking into account the advice of cancer experts.
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“However, CCGs have to live within their means and make difficult decisions about how funds can be used to benefit the health of the population as a whole. This is something that we take very seriously and it inevitably involves difficult trade-offs.

“I very much hope that Mr Frecknall’s chemotherapy continues to benefit him.”