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Beatson Cancer Charity has expanded its unique and specialist patient and family support services to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley thanks to initial funding from The Merchants House of Glasgow.
As part of the charity’s mission it provides a wide range of complementary and wellbeing therapies to patients cancer patients and to their families at its award-winning Wellbeing Centre located within The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (The Beatson), throughout the wards and departments and more recently at related facilities across the west of Scotland where cancer patients are treated including at the Lanarkshire Beatson, the New Victoria Hospital, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and now the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
The Merchants House of Glasgow kindly provided £10,000 to start the service which has allowed Beatson Cancer Charity therapists to introduce the service to haematology inpatients. As the service has proved incredibly successful for both patients and staff, the therapists now visit the palliative care ward and most recently the haematology day unit.
Thanks to the generosity of the charity’s supporters, Beatson Cancer Charity has increased its provision from originally two days a week to three days with the scope to increase this very soon due to popular demand and very positive feedback. Since the service started in April, Beatson Cancer Charity has carried out 184 therapies.
The charity plans to also renovate the family room on ward 18 which is in great need of refurbishment and will be fit for purpose as a non-clinical area for patients and family members to relax in.
David Welch, Chief Executive of Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “A cancer diagnosis is a traumatic and life-changing event, not just for the patient, but also for their family. Our patient and family support services are second to none and are not only comforting at a difficult time but are known to significantly improve the overall cancer experience of patients and families.
“We are proud to offer such unique services to so many people across the west of Scotland and I am delighted the staff and patients at the Royal Alexandra Hospital are seeing significant benefits so quickly. We look forward to working with them further to provide the best possible service to patients.
“My sincere thanks to The Merchants House of Glasgow for its generous contribution towards the service provision. Without the initial £10,000, it would not have been possible to reach so many patients in such a short space of time and for that we are truly grateful.”
John MacLeod, Lord Dean of Guild, said: “I am delighted The Merchants House through the Underwood Fund has been able to support this wonderful expansion of the activities of Beatson Cancer Charity at The Royal Alexandra Hospital. Thanks to a significant donation from The Underwood Trust we have the opportunity to support activities in the wider Paisley area, and this is a wonderful example.”
Jacqueline Nicol, general manager, Royal Alexandra Hospital, said: “A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for patients and their family.
“This new service at the RAH is very welcome and is already proving popular in helping patients and their families during a traumatic time.
“We’re working closely with Beatson Cancer Charity to make sure patients are as comfortable as possible during their treatment.”
Beatson Cancer Charity is committed to securing significant funding to enhance the experience, treatment, outcomes and wellbeing of current and former cancer patients and their families or carers in partnership with The Beatson and related facilities. As the lead centre for non-surgical cancer care in Scotland, it is the busiest cancer centre in the UK and one of the world’s leading cancer centres.
Beatson Cancer Charity provides a range of patient and family support services and facilities including patient wellbeing and complementary therapies delivered throughout the cancer centre, through its unique and award winning Wellbeing Centre and at cancer treatment facilities across the west of Scotland. The charity also funds many specialist posts including specialist nursing, radiography, physics and research-based staff as well as enhanced medical equipment, innovative service developments, novel research projects and developmental staff training.
To find out more or donate to Beatson Cancer Charity click here, call 0141 212 0505 or email info@beatsoncancercharity.org
