New Cancer Centre opens to provide improved care

The new £3 million centre, funded jointly by Macmillan Cancer Support and the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, will tranform cancer care at the hospital.

The new centre has doubled the chemotherapy capacity of the hospital’s previous unit, dramatically reducing overcrowding.

The centre was officially opened by long-term patient Tracey Oliver who said: “The whole place is so much bigger – from the waiting room to the treatment area and even the number of toilets.

“As well as being bigger, the treatment area is much more private.

“In the old unit people could see the treatment seats from the waiting area which made you feel like you were constantly on view.

“The old unit felt cramped and I think it was quite stressful for staff to be working in such difficult conditions.”

The Cancer Centre will offer consistent access to a team of Macmillan welfare advisors, a far greater number of consultation rooms, as well as more working areas for Lister nurses and other clinical staff.

Carol Fenton, Macmaillan Cancer Support General Manager, said: “It has been an immense pleasure to work with patients, the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and many others to bring this state-of-the-art centre to life,

“Around 1,500 people are diagnosed with cancer every year across the area, and there are a further 10,000 people already living with cancer in the region.

“More people living with cancer means we need to plan better services and develop more personalised care.

“It is fantastic that we are doing that here at the Lister Hospital and helping to ensure that no-one faces cancer alone.”

Macmillan’s appeal for the Lister Macmillan Cancer Centre has so far raised £1.2 million with £300,000 still being targeted.

Nick Carver, chief executive at Lister Hospital, said: “We now have a fantastic center at the Lister, the quality of which matches the great care that our staff have always provided to their patients.”

For more information on the Lister Macmillan Cancer Centre and how to donate to the ongoing appeal call 03001 000200 or email fundraising @macmillan.org.uk