HUNDREDS of cancer patients will be saved gruelling trips to Oxford thanks to a new clinic and kit worth less than a top-of-the-range Aston Martin.

A secretaries’ room on the third floor of Great Western Hospital has been converted into a head and neck cancer clinic, which was unveiled this week.

A state-of-the-art endoscopy system costing more than £85,000 will allow specialist doctors to check the back of patients’ throats for signs of cancer. Extra staff have been recruited and the new clinical room is large enough for a dietician, psychologist, dentist and speech and language therapist to join the check-up sessions.

The new clinic, held once a week, means Swindon patients will be able to avoid travelling to Oxford for specialist care.

Throat cancer survivor Nick Crowson-Towers, chairman of support group Heads2gether, has fought to get the new unit at the GWH.

“I was diagnosed with cancer in 2004,” the 72-year-old from Wokingham said. “I felt a lump in my throat. I thought it was a gland, but the lump didn’t go down. Being a typical bloke I avoided going to the doctor for as long as possible.

“Eventually, with the help of Oxford doctors they diagnosed cancer. It was a hell of a shock to be told, ‘You’ve got the Big C’”.

The cancer group chairman fought for the new unit alongside Macmillan Cancer Support manager Ingrid Goodman, who died in September after a battle with the condition. “To witness this clinic open up after five years of the amazing teamwork to get it to this stage gives me such pride. Ingrid would have shared that pride,” said Nick.

Macmillan has invested £290,000 into the project, matched by £260,000 from NHS England.

Abby Mabil, Macmillan head and neck cancer project manager at NHS England, said: “Having to travel long distances for regular follow-up appointments can be stressful. As well as impacting on patient health, it can also cause money worries because of travel and parking costs and time needed off work.”

It is expected to save each Swindon cancer patient about 120 trips round-trips to Oxford. People generally continue to see specialists for up to five years after surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.