A new multi-million nurse-led unit has opened with aims to dramatically reduce the stay of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in a London hospital.

According to Nursing Times, the £5 million ambulatory care centre was opened last week by the Royal Marsden Foundation Trust, which aims to put those in nurse manager jobs and other nursing positions at the forefront of care.

Specialists who are trained in prescribing and advanced assessment will handle the majority of consultations and carry out ultrasound and ascites draining. That's because doctors don't need to carry out those tasks, explained oncologist Sanjay Popat. "It means the doctors can spend more of their time on complex patients," he explained. "They will still see other patients but at different times, such as when key decisions need to be made."

The centre boasts a medical day unit, where patients undergo chemotherapy and a clinical assessment unit for patients who become seriously unwell. Clinical nurse director Justine Holfand said that nurses are leading care in both the units, which means it's much quicker for patients. "Already, we have had a lady who would have had to stay for between three and five days for ascites draining who was able to come in and have it done in the unit and go home the same day," she said.