BEFORE leaving for Luton, hospital boss, Stephen Ramsden will be running for Watford.

The Chief Executive of Mount Vernon and Watford Hospitals NHS Trust is leaving the area after nine years with a farewell gesture likely to put his personal fitness to the ultimate test.

Stephen will be running in the Watford Half Marathon on Sunday in support of the Breast Care Unit at Watford General Hospital, which has recently been designated Breast Care Unit of West Hertfordshire.

He has joined forces with Dr Dick Ashford, Senior Cancer Consultant at Mount Vernon and Watford General hospitals and Graham Ball, Chief Executive of The Peace Hospice.

Between them, the three men hope to raise £10,000 for a consultant in palliative care for the hospice and a high resolution collinator, which will help diagnosis at the breast care unit.

Known as the Pink Suite, this unit's one-stop clinic opened in August with one session a week. A second clinic is to be added each Monday.

Watford Hospital's League of Friends has donated £30,000 to expand the department but money is still needed for equipment to increase accuracy in the diagnosis of smaller lumps.

Consultant Radiologist, Dr Tafida El-Sayed, who leads the breast care unit team, said: "The one-stop clinic is there for women on demand. First you see your doctor and if he refers you, you will be seen within ten days - and get the diagnosis on the day."

"No other unit in Hertfordshire provides that service, which also reduces the level of anxiety in patients. Having undergone tests in the morning, you receive the result in the afternoon.

"The patient either goes home reassured or, if the growth is cancerous, she is told by a surgeon and a breast care nurse with the relative or friend who accompanied her present."

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