Multi-million pounds plans approved for cancer centre at Friarage Hospital
Multi-million pound plans to build a new cancer centre to expand services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton have been approved.
Hambleton District Council has rubber-stamped the plans, meaning building work can soon get underway on the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre. Macmillan Cancer Support has been working with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop proposals for the new cancer centre.
North Yorkshire-based philanthropist Sir Robert Ogden is jointly funding the project with Macmillan - his third similar project in partnership with the charity. Sir Robert and Lady Ogden are also contributing to the design process of the centre. Their aim is to create a relaxing and comfortable environment to ensure patients undergoing treatment have an improved experience.
The project will provide the latest up to date treatment and create a state-of-the-art facility for patients, carers and relatives from the North Yorkshire and South Tees areas and will include:
A chemotherapy treatment lounge with capacity to treat up to 35 patients a day
Complementary therapy facilities
Treatment and consulting room
A Macmillan cancer information and support centre
Supporting accommodation (including telemedicine facilities)
Currently, the Friarage provides diagnostic cancer services for lung, upper GI, urology, gynaceology, lower GI, breast and haematology as well as skin cancer and brain tumours. It is also a treatment unit for colorectal, haematology, breast and lung cancer.
The plans, which included input from patients, went on display in January for a period of public consultation.
Building work is expected to start this summer, with the project due to be completed in the summer of 2018.