Patients at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital will benefit from cancer diagnostics equipment, made possible thanks to a fundraising campaign by fashion designer outlet Labels for Cares.

The new addition to the endoscopy unit is thanks to a generous donation of £250,000 that was raised for the hospital’s charity ELHT&Me, by Burnley-based Labels for Cares.

On Thursday, September 5, the endoscopy team hosted a special thank you event where they showcased the equipment and demonstrated how it supports cancer diagnostics.

Doctor Venkat Mahesh, clinical lead for endoscopy at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is an advanced state-of-the-art diagnostic endoscopy with the help of ultrasound waves and other associated technologies to accurately identify, define, and stage cancer.

“It will also help with obtaining tissue samples, which would aid in accurate diagnosis and appropriate surgical and chemotherapeutic interventions. This is particularly suited for cancers of the pancreas, bile duct, liver, esophagus, and stomach.”

This is not the first donation from Labels for Cares, which stands for Cancer Assessment Rapid Early Support. In 2020 their donations supported the introduction of two endoscopy machines at Burnley General Hospital, which have already scanned thousands of patients, providing swift results and utilising the latest technology to improve patient outcomes.

The organisation was set up after one of its founding members, John Banaszkiewicz, former co-chairman and ex-owner of Burnley FC, had a cancer scare. The aim is to help improve cancer survival rates in East Lancashire by promoting access to early cancer screening.

Anthony Fairclough, co-founder of Labels for Cares alongside John, said: “Building on the success of the two existing machines that have scanned thousands of people in East Lancashire, this new addition underscores our commitment to providing swift results and leveraging cutting-edge technology.

"We are proud to support the Trust in its mission to deliver the best possible care for patients.”

Martin Hodgson, chief executive at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: “We are immensely grateful to John Banaszkiewicz for his remarkable vision in establishing a charity with the goal of providing the East Lancashire Hospitals Endoscopy team access to the latest and best equipment in healthcare, working with our Trust charity ELHT&Me.

"Thanks to his dedication, along with the efforts of his family and the charity staff, we are thrilled to have received £325,000 worth of cutting-edge equipment, which will greatly enhance the care we provide to our patients.”

The introduction of the Olympus Evis EUS endosonography system is expected to enhance the diagnostic capabilities at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, ensuring that patients receive accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.