"WHY more nurses?" asked Ron Davies as he launched the new Macmillan Nurses Appeal at The Left Bank in Hereford, on Tuesday.

He went on to explain that when Douglas Macmillan founded his 'Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer' in 1911, his vision was to promote quality cancer care and information for everyone.

"The appointment of these two new specialist nurses in Herefordshire will further improve the quality of care given to Herefordshire cancer patients," said Mr Davies, who is spearheading the fundraising campaign.

The new appointments bring the total number of Macmillan nurses in the county to 14.

The appeal is scheduled to run for two years to raise the £250,000 necessary to pay for the posts for three years before the Primary Care Trust takes over the funding.

Patients will not, however, have to wait that long to benefit as the two nurses - one in palliative care based at St Michael's Hospice and the other a Clinical Nurse Specialist in oncology at the Charles Renton Unit - have already been appointed.

Anne Mitchell, clinical nurse specialist in oncology, is very excited about her new role, which will see her dealing with patients suffering from rarer forms of cancer, reducing the need for them to travel to specialist hospitals.

"I'm really looking forward to it. Fifty per cent of patients are still going to Cheltenham for treatment. The creation of this post will help us treat more patients locally."

The appeal has already received a kick-start from a number of enthusiastic fundraisers, including Don Powell and his wife, who have already raised in excess of £9,000 with a charity dinner at Pencoyd Manor and a walk in the Sahara by Don.

Joining Ron Davies as he launched the appeal were Mrs Rosanna Bulmer, County Chair of Macmillan, Val Howell, Macmillan Service Development Manager, Peter Davies, Lead Cancer Nurse at the Charles Renton Unit, and the Mayor of Hereford, Mrs Ursula Attfield.