“A momentous day” as HRH The Earl of Wessex opens North Devon’s £2.5million chemotherapy unit

HRH The Earl of Wessex visited Barnstaple today to officially open the new chemotherapy and day treatment unit at North Devon District Hospital.

Prince Edward was greeted by Mayor of Barnstaple Val Elkins before being led on a 45-minute tour of the Seamoor Unit by Ian Roome, fundraising manager for the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, and chairman Roger French.

The Prince met patients, staff, fundraisers, volunteers, the project team and others who helped to bring the £2.5million scheme to fruition.

He was also shown and given a slice of a spectacular cake in the shape of a royal crown, made by award-winning NDDH chef Meg Davis.

After a short speech by Mr French, the Prince unveiled a plaque next to the main entrance and declared the unit officially open.

He also gave an impromptu speech of his own to praise the new unit and everyone involved for making it happen.

Children from Pathfield School waved flags to welcome the Prince while Barnstaple Concert Band provided musical entertainment.

Dr Alison Diamond, chief executive, said: “It has been a momentous day for everyone involved and a great honour to welcome a member of the Royal Family to North Devon District Hospital.

“Prince Edward was very complimentary about the Seamoor Unit, the modern environment and the facilities that will make such a positive difference to thousands of patients and their families every year for generations to come.”

Mr Roome said: “The Prince was very warm and welcoming – a lovely man.

“He spoke to all the patients who were receiving treatment and heard how wonderful the new unit was compared to the old one.

“We weren’t expecting him to give a speech but he stood up and thanked all the staff and fundraisers and said how great the unit was.

“He spoke to everyone, including the schoolchildren, the band and bystanders.

“He was really interested in what was going on. It was absolutely phenomenal.”

The unit opened to patients in the spring following a four-year fundraising campaign led by the local community, known as the Chemotherapy Appeal.

The North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust (NDCCCT) contributed £700,000 while the rest came thanks to the efforts and generosity of individuals, organisations and businesses.

Dr Diamond added: “We would like to reiterate our gratitude to everyone who contributed to this amazing project – staff, fundraisers, volunteers, the project team, the North Devon Gazette and many more.

“Thanks to you, we have a wonderful, state-of-the-art building which offers a fitting and comfortable environment for staff, patients and families, at a time in their lives when they need it the most.”

The Trust continues to raise vital funds to support its services, including the Seamoor Unit, through its charity Over and Above.

For more information about Over and Above and how you can help, call the fundraising team on 01271 311772, e-mail ndht.charity@nhs.net or visit https://overandabove.org.uk.

 

ADDITIONAL QUOTE ABOUT THE SEAMOOR UNIT

Charlotte Overney, lead nurse and cancer manager, said: “The feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive and our scores in the Friends and Family Test are consistently very high.

“Patients regularly comment on the quality of the environment, which is much more welcoming for patients and their families, as well as the high levels of care and support they receive from our staff.

“Many also say how nice it is to be able to have someone with them while they receive their treatment, which wasn’t possible in the old unit.”

INVITED GUESTS

HRH The Earl of Wessex met a number of invited guests during his visit.

The guests included:

  • Past and present consultants, clinicians and staff
  • Members of the project team, including facilities managers, architects and contractors
  • Volunteers
  • Representatives of the North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust, which contributed £700,000 towards the project
  • A representative from Macmillan Cancer Support, which funds the role of the Seamoor Unit manager and contributed £104,000 towards state-of-the-art equipment such as the chemotherapy chairs used during treatment
  • A representative from the Exeter Leukaemia Fund, which donated £50,000 towards one of the haematology rooms
  • The editor of the North Devon Gazette, the official media partner of the Chemotherapy Appeal

ROYAL CROWN CAKE

The royal crown cake is made of Victoria sponge with jam and buttercream filling, coated with marzipan and fondant icing. The entire cake, including the jewels, is edible.

MORE INFORMATION

The Seamoor Unit was designed by architects from David Wilson Partnership, while UK construction company Morgan Sindall completed the build in 13 months with the help of local sub-contractors.

The unit contains a main treatment area named in memory of Jennifer Bonetta, founder of NDCCCT, which contains 14 treatment chairs in an open-plan design as suggested by patients.

There are also separate en-suite treatment rooms, seven consulting rooms for oncology and haematology outpatients, a resource room, a quiet room and a staff meeting room.

When patients arrive, they are met with a hotel-style reception and a large waiting area with a skylight which will be available for support groups to use in the evenings.

Outside, the unit has its own drop-off point as well as a courtyard and surrounding areas for use by patients.

Solar panels, under-floor heating and a sedum roof contribute to the eco-friendly design and the unit’s nomination to become the first building in North Devon to achieve a BREEAM excellence award for sustainability.