Cancer unit’s £60k revamp

1:29pm Sunday 16th March 2008

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A LIFELINE centre for hundreds of cancer patients in York is set for a £60,000 revamp.

The Cancer Care Centre at York Hospital provides a range of services aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with cancer.

Patients under the care of the hospital can enjoy six free complementary therapy sessions from the centre - including massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, Reiki and reflexology.

Benefits advisors and trained counsellors are also available for free appointments.

Ten years after it was founded, a major makeover is now planned to create a more relaxing atmosphere and improve access and privacy.

Cancer care co-ordinator Paul Meyor said: "We are really excited about this project. About 30 per cent of patients with cancer will suffer some psychological distress through their cancer pathway, so providing good supportive care is essential."

The £60,000 facelift will be entirely funded by the centre's charitable fund - through donations, legacies and fundraising.

Work is expected to get under way this summer and is due to be completed by the end of the year.

Mr Meyor said: "Many of the rooms in the centre used to be clinical rooms, so now we want to revamp them to make them more spa-like for our complementary therapies.

"Our aim is to make the centre more welcoming and relaxing and to improve disabled access, especially to the information resource room. We also want to make some structural changes to create more privacy for our users."

Macmillam lead nurse for cancer and palliative care, Cath Miller, said: "The cancer centre has a lot to offer in terms of support for cancer patients and we want more people to know about how we can help."

More than 1,500 patients received cancer treatment at York Hospital last year.

On Saturday, May 10, an open day will be held to raise awareness of the services and support that are available from the Cancer Care Centre. The event, called Positive Living With Cancer, will be held at York Hospital's post-graduate centre, from 10am to 3pm.

There will be stalls and displays about positive life-styles and therapies and a chance to visit the Cancer Care Centre and give some input into its redesign.

Local and national speakers have also been invited to give a talk about the future of cancer care.

To book your free place, phone Helen Mackman on 01904 726792, or email cpcpg@york.nhs.uk