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Publish date: 05 April 2022
The University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre celebrates its tenth anniversary. It opened to its first patients on 2 April 2012.
Over the past ten years we have cared for 76,000 patients during 1.2 million appointments in outpatient clinics, supportive care, apheresis and ambulatory care, offering comfortable spaces for chemotherapy treatment and a range of psychological, welfare and practical help in the Macmillan Support and Information Service. We have dedicated a whole floor for the treatment of teenagers and young adults with cancer, supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Cancer Centre has enabled us to expand our ambulatory care service and reduce the need to admit inpatients for cancer treatment.
Professor Geoff Bellingan, UCLH medical director for surgery and cancer, said: “Ten years of the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre has transformed the way we provide care for people at different stages of their cancer treatment. At the same time our cancer patient survey has shown that satisfaction with the care we offer our patients has steadily improved, which is wonderful. We have a fantastic team of staff using their skills and specialties with compassion.
“This milestone marks an important moment in the development of our services for people with cancer. Whether it is introducing new treatment pathways or our recent opening of the proton beam therapy unit –UCLH is making great strides in cancer and we are now widely recognised as one of the leading cancer centres in the world.”
The anniversary began with a celebratory tea in the Living Room at the Macmillan Cancer Centre attended by patients, staff members, and UCLH senior directors, including David Probert, chief executive, Kirit Ardeshna, divisional clinical director for cancer services, Sarah Burton, deputy chief nurse, Lois Roberts, divisional manager for cancer services, and Professor Geoff Bellingan. They were joined by Macmillan Cancer Support’s chief executive, Lynda Thomas CBE, and chair of trustees, Richard Murley.
There is also an exhibition reviewing the 10 years and the publication of Leonard’s Cars, an adult colouring book, inspired by a late patient, to help patients creatively occupy their time.
Next month there will be a cancer conference at the Royal College of GPs, packed with presentations showcasing some of the ground breaking developments in our cancer care.
In the autumn an exhibition, showing staff and services over the 10 years, will be displayed in the Capper Street windows at the cancer centre.
