Chris is named as Christie governor

CHRIS HOYLE

A MAN who has worked relentlessly to turn his dream of creating a cancer support centre into a reality, has been appointed as a governor for the Christie Hospital.

Chris Hoyle is Oldham’s first public governor for the world-famous cancer hospital.

It means he is part of a body with a direct link to the hospital’s board of directors, which has a say in helping to shape the future of the Christie.

The hospital has more than 13,000 public members, who are either patients or other people with an interest in it.

The idea is to give them a voice in saying how cancer services are provided and developed, and they can make their opinions heard by the decision-makers through their governor.

Chris was one of six candidates for the voluntary job, and members voted him in to act as their spokesman, which means he will represent their views during the three years he will hold the post.

Founder

He is one of 15 public governors across the North-West, and among a total of 29 governors who will meet four times each year.

Chris is the founder of Oldham Cancer Support Centre, which opened in January last year at Failsworth Primary Care Centre after many months of fund-raising.

It is the culmination of years of work by Chris and a band of volunteers to plug a gap he discovered existed after he was diagnosed with leukaemia.

He floundered when the cushion of support offered by NHS staff inevitably fell away after his initial treatment, leaving him with hours of empty time on his hands and little by way of support when he was too poorly to go back to work.

The centre has offered a lifeline to other people in the wake of diagnosis and treatment for cancer, with the sole aim of helping people get back to some kind of normal life.

Chris said: “It is important that the cancer support centre is a partner with the Christie.

“We have good strong links, our complementary therapists go there for specialist training on how to help cancer patients, and I am very proud to be representing the people of Oldham as a governor.”

Anyone over the age of 16 can become a member. To find out how, e-mail members@christie.nhs.uk  or ring the members department on 0161-446 8616 or

Members get regular newsletters and can give their views and opinions through public governors, at open days, public meetings and special events, or by participating in surveys. Chris can be contacted on 07903-231226.