Plans for Harrogate Hospital to create a separate specialist cancer unit on site costing £9.2m were accepted last week.
The centre’s plans were granted by the councillors after they unanimously voted for it. There were concerns that the building would be too big for the area, and that the trees on Wetherby Road would have to be destroyed, which would lose screening. However, after being reassured that the building would be as small as possible, and that more plants would be planted to cover the building the councillors had clearly made up their minds.
The 3 storey building is due to be built on the east side of the hospital. The unit will also have its own car park for the patients using the facility. This is important as the centre will treat people all over Yorkshire, and could cause traffic congestion.
The centre is being part funded by 4 different sources. Sir Terry Prichard and Macmillan Cancer Support have both donated generously by giving £4m each. £20,000 has been raised by local charities and trusts.
Harrogate Grammar School chose the centre for their charity of the year and raised £9,000! Harrogate’s local Brownies and Cubs has a great team effort to raise money, from junior discos, bake sales and a huge sponsored walk around Fewston reservoir, they managed to raise £6,000! Friends of Harrogate Hospital raised £5,000 by a charity fair held on the Stray.
The remaining £1m has been provided by Harrogate and District NHS foundation Trust.
The specialist centre will have a chemotherapy floor, dedicated to the patients’ needs whilst trying to make the treatment less stressful. With plasma TVs, electronic toys, Kindles with 1000 of books on, and also 3 newly furnished sitting rooms, where family and friends can come with the patient to support them.
Harrogate Hospital is also trying to make the centre more child friendly so the children who have to have treatment, or whose parents have cancer, will not feel more stressed and uncomfortable.
The new unit will mean that cancer patients will no longer have to travel to Leeds for critical treatment.
Karen Snowdon, 48, a breast cancer survivor and previous patient at Harrogate Hospital, who had to be referred to Leeds, supported the centre. “I think this new centre will be great for cancer sufferers in Harrogate. It means they will get quicker referral. It has great ideas to make it child friendly as hospitals are scary places even for adults.”
The centre’s grand opening is planned for May 2013, and it will be ready to provide treatment in June 2013. Work is set to start at the beginning of 2012, weather permitting.
- I have edited this story as this article would make front page news, whereas the new car park would be preferred on the second page. I have split the two stories up and but more detail in this one.
- I am going to use this story as my main headline story as it is a recent, up to date story, which involves people. The community in Harrogate will also want to know information like this as it is relevant.
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