Children's cancer unit gets £500K upgrade

A hospital says a major upgrade of one of its units will improve the experience for generations of children.

A £495K charity donation has paid for several improvements at the children's outpatient department at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH), including two additional treatment spaces and refurbished waiting areas.

Dr Polly Bates, RUH associate specialist in paediatric oncology, said the changes had created a "more comfortable and nurturing environment" for children and their families.

"Children will now be able to come into a much less stressful environment and just get home and get on with the business of being a child," she added.

The revamp also includes modernised medication preparation facilities, enhanced clinical workspaces and a more open and accessible reception.

Bates said the upgrades would change the way doctors worked, as they had previously outgrown the space they had in the 1990s-built building.

"Many of our cancer patients have multiple hospital visits over extended periods," she added.

"They will really benefit from these changes. We are incredibly grateful."

The £495K needed for the project was donated by the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, who went to visit the improved unit this month.

Michael Taylor, chairman of the group, said: "The improvements which have been carried out at the unit will improve the experience of children undergoing treatments.

"We're all volunteers, no paid staff and a group of us went around the more-or-less completed building works and it's tremendous," he added.

"Having seen it in the before state and then after state, well it's brilliant news."

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