| The development will bring oncology outpatients, which is used for chemotherapy and consultation and specialist radiotherapy services into the same adjacent facility. The significant three storey extension will accommodate the Haematology (blood and blood diseases) Clinic in the Outpatient’s Facility and a dedicated chemotherapy area. There is also the flexibility to expand in the future, with the possibility to house extra patient support facilities. The new facility will also house a hi tech radiotherapy training suite which will give trainee and junior radiotherapists a dedicated place to train and get safe hands on experience, without patient contact. Lynne Smith, Oncology General Manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is an exciting development and providing the vast majority of our life saving treatments in one place will provide a much better experience for our patients. It also gives us plenty of scope to expand in the future.” This will also give patients undergoing chemotherapy close access to the facilities already in the cancer centre, including the volunteer run coffee shop and information centre. Tony Curtis, Chief Executive at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Even though the NHS is currently facing a challenging time, it is important that we continue to invest in our facilities and continuously improve services for patients.” Planning permission has been approved and the development is expected to be completed by June 2012. Over 8,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Lancashire and South Cumbria. |
