CANCER patients from across East Lancashire could face shorter journeys for life-saving treatment from next year.

Bosses at the Royal Preston Hospital have revealed that the second phase of its cancer unit will start this summer.

The work, which will cost £3.7million, is expected to finish next year with the unit accepting East Lancashire patients from autumn 1999.

The second phase of the work will provide a third radiotherapy machine and a specialist tomography machine which diagnoses tumours.

Six more full-time radiographers and two additional clinical oncologists will also be recruited.

The work has been funded by both the NHS and private sector, as part of the Government's public-private partnership initiative.

Joan Jackson, cancer services manager at the unit which opened in February 1997, said: "Many patients in East Lancashire will soon have access to local cancer services and will be able to travel the short distance daily for radiotherapy treatment in Preston.

"At present this often means becoming an inpatient for several weeks at the Christie Hospital or enduring long and uncomfortable journeys."

East Lancashire Health Authority is currently holding contract talks with the Preston centre.

The health authority has indicated that patients may even have the choice of treatment at either the Christie or at Preston.

Patients with rarer tumours will continue to be referred to the Christie, with the more common cancers being treated at the Preston unit.

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