A brand new, state-of-the-art day facility for oncology patients in the Island will be declared officially open at a ceremony at Noble’s Hospital this weekend.
The Eric and Marion Scott Oncology Unit serves patients who come to hospital for cancer therapy treatment and those attending specialist consultant clinics.
Based in the former Noble’s Ward 5, the conversion, refurbishment and equipping of the unit has been funded entirely through charitable donations from the Eric and Marion Scott Trust and the Noble’s Hospital Equipment Trust. The refurbishment was completed within a challenging time frame by construction partners SCS who began the project in January; the first patients were welcomed into the unit in July this year.
The unit will be officially opened on Saturday 14 September 2019 by the Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford. After the ceremony, guests will be invited to look around the unit and meet staff, and there’s an opportunity for members of the public to see the new improved facilities from 3pm.
Media are invited to send a reporter/photographer to the opening on Saturday at 2pm.
The bespoke modern facility replaces a stand-alone unit on the Noble’s estate which was separate from the main hospital building. It provides almost double the number of treatment stations for day patients than before, including four specially adapted chairs for haemato-oncology patients, those being treated for blood cancers. A dedicated car park and direct entrance to the unit are integral to the design, to ensure patients receiving treatment for cancer can come and go swiftly and discreetly.
Those attending oncology clinic appointments will still use the main Noble’s entrance and once in the unit will be shown straight into the clinic area where they’ll find a comfortable waiting room and two purpose-built oncology consultancy suites.
Décor, colour schemes and artwork within the unit have been carefully selected to provide an appropriate calming atmosphere, and more artwork will be going on display over the coming weeks, including images donated by local artists, photographic societies and patients.
Minister Ashford said:
‘I’m delighted and honoured to perform the official opening of this superb new facility, which will greatly enhance the experience of Island patients. The vision we shared with the Eric and Marion Scott Trust to bring together oncology services at Noble’s under one roof has now been realised, and we thank the Trust and donors for their generosity. The new unit has been designed with the needs and sensitivities of patients very much in mind and a number of features have been incorporated in response to their suggestions. We can be very proud of what has been created.
He added:
‘I would like to thank all partners involved in this project and to pay special tribute to hospital staff who’ve accommodated the building work going on around them with patience and professionalism.’
Senior Sister, Chemotherapy, Jane Gaunt said:
‘All the comments we’ve had so far from patients, visitors and colleagues alike have been extremely positive. Having oncology facilities in one place within the main hospital is proving a big advantage. It’s clear that the new unit is already giving a simpler, more comfortable patient journey in a welcoming, calm and professional atmosphere.’
