04 Mar HRH Prince Charles visits the Macmillan Living Room in UCLH’s new cancer and surgery hospital
University College Hospital Grafton Way Building, which houses a revolutionary new cancer treatment facility – the Proton Beam Therapy Centre (PBT) – has been officially opened by The Prince of Wales, patron of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Proton Beam Therapy is a type of radiotherapy which can target tumours with millimetre accuracy, sparing the impact on the surrounding healthy tissue and therefore increasing the rate of cure and reducing side effects.
Macmillan has invested over £645,000 in The Living Room and by funding a Specialist Radiographer and two Support Workers for the new PBT centre. The Macmillan Living Room is a therapeutic centre providing a quiet contemplative space to help patients feel they are not alone. This is particularly vital for patients, families and carers who are away from home.
Macmillan’s Chief Operating Officer, Simon Phillips, joined Prince Charles on the visit. Simon said: “We’re really proud to be helping UCLH deliver such pioneering state-of-the-art treatment. This PBT centre is one of only two NHS centres in England that has this innovative equipment. The Christie in Manchester catered largely for patients in the north but now patients in the south can benefit from local access to this advanced treatment, with potentially better outcomes and a lower risk of long-term side effects.”
Around a third of the patients treated are children and teenagers and, as the PBT treatment course takes around six weeks, most will be staying in nearby accommodation and visiting the centre as outpatients each day.
As such, Macmillan wanted to create a space in The Living Room that was separate from the treatment floor, where patients can access support and information and feel as comfortable as possible. The Macmillan Living Room is a welcoming ‘hub’ for families and friends to meet, discuss, reflect and support each other in a calm and relaxing environment.
The PBT Centre and The Macmillan Living Room are located in UCLH’s new flagship cancer and surgery building – the Grafton Way Building, 1 Grafton Way, London WC1E 6AS.
For cancer support, contact our specially trained nurses and experts on the Macmillan Support Line, 0808 808 00 00 (8am-8pm, 7 days/week) or visit macmillan.org.uk.
