Macmillan Unit Completed

Photo call

Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Time: 10.30am
Venue: Outside the new Macmillan Unit building at West Suffolk Hospital

Representatives from main building contractors Haymills will hand over the keys to the completed £2.1million Macmillan Unit to West Suffolk Hospital's NHS Trust on Wednesday (Dec 15).

The unit, which has taken 12 months to build, will be open to patients by mid January 2005.

The new facilities available at the unit from mid January will include:

• A Chemotherapy Unit providing 11 treatment chairs and two bed spaces in a large open lounge

• A quiet room offering facilities for private discussions

• A four room outpatient suite including a second quiet room

• Five additional beds two of which can be used for patients needing protective isolation

• A 'drop-in' patient information suite, offering free help, support and advice to the public as well as cancer patients and their families

• Better staff facilities enabling them to offer enhanced standards of care

• A light airy new reception and waiting area providing a warm welcome

The new Macmillan Unit is an extension and refurbishment to the hospital's G1 ward for cancer patients. The £2.1million cost has been divided between Macmillan Cancer Relief in Suffolk and West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust.

Gilda Bass, Clinical manager for Oncology, will accept the keys from Haymills on behalf of the Trust. She said: "The new unit will provide significantly improved, purpose built facilities for in-patients, out-patient clinics and day treatment. Prior to the development those services were provided in extremely cramped conditions within a single ward.

"The new unit not only provides more space and enhanced facilities for out-patient appointments and in-patient treatments but also designated quiet rooms for patient counselling and private discussions with relatives/carers. A new day room will enable patients to socialise and support each other when admitted for in-patient therapy.

"A patient information suite is a new initiative which that will ensure all patients and carers have access to up-to-date, relevant information about disease process, symptom control and support networks within the local community.

"All of the staff are very excited about the opening of the new unit and are looking forward to being able to provide care within an environment which will allow the patients comfort and privacy."

Sharon Ireland, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan, said: "Macmillan are so very proud to be associated with this scheme which is ultimately going to provide a better environment for people living with cancer today and tomorrow.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their help and support with the fundraising for this appeal, we've had lots of local people having lots of fun whilst raising their money. This includes a tremendous £30,000 raised by readers of the Bury Free Press that will enable us to equip our new cancer information suite.

"The Macmillan Brick Appeal has raised over £32,000 for the unit and this will run on for some time to come, so if you haven't had an opportunity to donate there is still time."

Note:

The new unit is a joint project between the charity Macmillan and the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust.

8 December 2004