Patients and fund-raisers tour new £2.2m cancer unit ahead of opening
FUND-RAISERS, supporters and ex-patients of the haematology unit at Northampton General Hospital have had their first glimpse of the finished building before it opens to patients on Monday.
The £2.2 million unit – which will treat people with blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, is the subject of an 18-month fund-raising campaign by the Chronicle & Echo and Macmillan Cancer Support that has so far raised more than £850,000.
Staff who will work in the new unit were on hand yesterday to show some of the people most instrumental in helping raise that money around the new building.
Among them was Lady Catherine Morton, Macmillan chairwoman in Northamptonshire.
She said: “I think it’s fantastic. They’ve done such a good job at transforming the space they had and it looks really good.”
Macmillan fund-raiser Diane Saunderson was also impressed by the improvements made. I think it’s amazing, and seeing it ready to go like this has given me a new impetus in fund-raising.
“We still need to raise the rest of the money to pay for the unit, but we have found, even in this economic climate, that people are willing to put their hands in their pockets, so we are confident we will do it.”
The total cost of the new unit is £2.2 million. With the hospital contributing £650,000, Macmillan needs to raise £1.55 million.
So far, generous individuals, businesses and community groups in the county have raised more than £850,000 towards the target, but more work is needed to hit the £1.55 million figure, which will ensure the unit can provide the best possible care for its patients.
Karen Shortt, from Macmillan, said: “The new Macmillan Haematology Suite looks brilliant and it’s absolutely fantastic we have got to this point where patients are going to start being able to use all the new facilities.
“We are incredibly grateful to everybody who has supported the appeal so far but we do have a long way to go to hit £1.55 million target and we’re asking people in the county to help us get there. There are so many ways people can get involved and support the appeal, and we would ask anyone who can help to please get in touch.”
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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