New emergency assessment bay at NGH will still open this month despite plea for £75,000

The charity set up a fundraiser back in January to transform an area on Talbot Butler ward to create a second purpose-built emergency assessment bay (EAB) for haematology and oncology patients and so far £275,000 has been raised.

Despite not reaching the total £350,000 figure yet, the charity said the remaining money could come out of their reserves - but they would like for the funds to be replenished through charitable donations.

Alison McCulloch from Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund said: "We do thank the fundraisers that have contributed so far. We only need £75,000 to reach our target.

"We are encouraging the people of Northampton, who are fantastic, to help reach our target and continue to support that much needed facility."

Oncology and haematology patients are often ill between their treatment cycles and require emergency support and review, sometimes immediately.

The urgent nature of these complications means that patients are unable to wait for outpatient appointments.

The support provided to patients at present is to attend an existing emergency assessment bay in the oncology outpatient department, during the hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Outside of these times - and when capacity has been reached in the current EAB - patients are advised to visit A&E.

With the patient’s immune system often compromised due to treatment, they could be exposed to unnecessary infection making A&E a far from ideal place for them to be.

The new EAB will have dedicated areas for triage, assessment and examinations in an environment that is open and spacious offering patients round-the-clock specialist assessment.

It is expected to be completed by September 28th before winter pressures start.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire General Hospital said: “The opening of the new emergency assessment bay later this month is a massive development for us in providing specialist care for our oncology and haematology patients.

"We’re enormously grateful to our charity for funding the project and to every one of our employees, volunteers, patients and family members who have helped to raise funds or are still planning their fundraising efforts. The generosity of our local community is second to none.”

You can contact the charity team to make a donation on 01604 626927 or you fundraise for the new emergency assessment bay by clicking here.