Almost 200 people have signed up to Bournemouth Hospital Charity’s March for Men which will raise money for state-of-the-art prostate cancer diagnosis equipment.
The event, taking place from Bournemouth Pier on 22 March, will help buy prostate template biopsy equipment which will reduce waiting times for patients at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosing prostate cancer and reduce infection rates. It will also benefit some men who have prostate cancer but are being monitored, by giving them the reassurance that monitoring their condition is the correct pathway of care.
The equipment costs almost £130,000 and enables urologists to investigate the whole prostate gland giving a much more accurate diagnosis. Biopsies are currently taken from just the back of the prostate and are performed in Dorchester, meaning patients have to travel.
Mr Andrew Wedderburn, Consultant Urologist, said: “Prostate cancer diagnosis and monitoring has evolved over the last few years. The prostate template biopsy equipment will have a huge impact on the lives of the men we see in clinic. The whole process will be much quicker and better for the patient.
“It’s an expensive piece of equipment but one that could benefit up to 400 patients each year as well as reducing the wait times by up to three months.
“Everyone ‘Marching for Men’ in a few weeks will be making a real difference to men’s health and we’re hoping that a lot of money will be raised.”
Bournemouth Hospital Charity events officer, Barry Wilson, said: “This is only the second year that March for Men has taken place. We had fantastic support last year with 360 people taking part but we’d love to increase that number this year and help to buy this fantastic piece of equipment.”
The event begins at 9.30am from Bournemouth Pier and participants can walk, run or March 1km, 5km, or 10km . If you would like to take part, log on to www.bournemouthhospitalcharity.org.uk, call 01202 704060, email charity@rbch.nhs.uk or visit the Bournemouth Hospital Charity office in the main atrium at RBH.
Bournemouth Hospital Charity aims to raise £2m each year to support the patient experience above and beyond what the NHS can provide. Donations to the charity provide the funding for much needed equipment and resources.
