A state of the art machine used in stem cell treatment is helping to ensure a smooth service can be provided to haematology patients at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

The Spectra Optia Aphresis machine, which was bought with a £63,500 award from the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund, is a second machine for the Trust. The new machine has been affectionately named Lily and joins Bert, the original machine. Both are named after clinical lead consultant haematologist Bryson Pottinger’s wife’s grandparents.

Teresa Batchelor, transplant nurse co-ordinator, said: “This new machine from the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund is exactly the same as the one we already have. By having a second machine we can ensure that should we have a problem with one machine, we can continue to offer the service in Truro. In the past we would either have had to send those patients to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth or borrow a machine from Derriford which could have caused a delay in treatment.”

The new machine also gives the Stem Cell Transplant service the opportunity to expand in the future. Dr Pottinger said: “Having two machines means we have the opportunity to develop the service in the future and we are also able to harvest or plasma exchange two patients at the same time.”

The donation was made after representatives from the charity met with Dr Pottinger and Kathryn Radcliffe, RCHT Lead Cancer Nurse. Kathryn said: “Dr Pottinger and I had a meeting with Helen McLeod from the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund. We put in an application and at the end of last year we heard our bid had been successful and the charity’s Trustees had approved the award for the machine.”