The first patients to use the £2.2million chemotherapy and day treatment unit at North Devon District Hospital say they are impressed with the new centre.

Janet James, the first patient in the new Seamoor Unit, receives a bouquet of flowers from lead nurse Charlotte Overney.

Following a mammoth four-year fundraising campaign, the Seamoor Unit opened to patients on Monday afternoon.

The centre replaces a much smaller unit on Level 2 of the main building.

The first patient, Janet James, was presented with a bouquet of flowers by lead cancer nurse Charlotte Overney.

Janet, from Landkey, said: “I was told on Friday that I was going to be the first patient. I was so excited.

“In the old unit it was a bit squashed with three patients in a room, a nurse and a treatment trolley.

“The new unit is wonderful and so spacious. It’s lovely, bright and airy. It’s completely different.”

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

Janet said: “It’s lovely in there and you can have a chat. When you’re having chemotherapy you can feel lonely and cut off, but in this room everyone is going to get on so well.”

Janet, who has had chemotherapy at NDDH for the past three to four years, added: “The care you receive in this hospital is really good.

“I get all the treatment I need and everyone is so helpful. The doctors, the nurses, the breast care team – everyone. It’s so wonderful.”

Derek Cooper, from Heanton Punchardon, was one of the first patients to use the main treatment area.

He said: “It’s nice to be able to see everybody. In the old unit, it could be just two, three or four people. It’s nice to be able to acknowledge people and talk to people.

“It’s much more relaxing here. Hospitals can be formidable, but this isn’t. It’s quite easy to be here.”

He added: “I never had any problems with the old unit. The care is very good. The staff are very warm and assuring.”

Derek Cooper, one of the first patients, is pictured with chemotherapy day treatment unit manager Emma Thoms.

Derek also praised the lighting and views at the new unit, as well as the support he had received from St Augustine’s Church at Heanton Punchardon.

The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has received further excellent feedback in the comments book at the Seamoor Unit.

Many of the comments were left after the public and staff tours of the unit last week and at the draw for the Grand Car Raffle on Friday.

Some of the comments included:

• “Absolutely blown away by this amazing place. Well done.”
• “Amazing. Lovely atmosphere for people to receive their treatment whilst being in a homely environment.”
• “Finding it hard to find enough words to describe what a wonderful facility this is. Absolutely fab. Well done.”
• “Fantastic. You seem to have thought of everything. Well done to all involved.”
• “Overwhelmed. This is why LOCAL fundraising is so important. Proud to have been part of it.”
• “Fabulous. Everything has been thought of for staff and patients. Very spacious and calming. Much needed for the area. Thank you.”
• “Well done to the fundraising team. I could not find anything to complain about.”

NORTH Devon’s £2.2million new chemotherapy and day treatment unit opens to patients today (Monday 30 March).

The Seamoor Unit, a state-of-the-art centre at North Devon District Hospital, is opening its doors following a momentous four-year fundraising campaign inspired by the local community.

Nearly a third of the funds came from the North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust (NDCCCT), which contributed £700,000 in total and presented a cheque for the final £300,000 to the hospital on Thursday.

JAMES Bonetta (chairman of the North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust) presents a cheque for £300,000 to the hospital on Thursday, taking the charity’s total contribution to £700,000. Also pictured are (from left) Ian Roome (fundraising manager), Andrew Spear (project manager for Morgan Sindall), David Wilson (architect and director of David Wilson Partnership), Phil Humphrey (capital building officer), Rae Reynolds (operational capital manager), Charlotte Overney (lead cancer nurse) and Julie Whitton (fundraising officer).

Dr Alison Diamond, chief executive of the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Today is a landmark day for the Trust and for cancer care in North Devon.

“The Seamoor Unit is a wonderful, purpose-built facility that will benefit thousands of patients and their families every year for generations to come.

“We are in this position today thanks to the incredible fundraising support of so many individuals, organisations and businesses in North Devon and beyond, who have got behind the Chemotherapy Appeal with such enthusiasm and dedication since it was set up in February 2011.

“We owe special thanks to the North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust for leading from the front so magnificently.

“No matter how large or small your contribution, or how you’ve done it, it has helped to build and furnish this exceptional building we have today.

“Fundraising manager Ian Roome and his staff have provided the bedrock, supported so well by the project team, our remarkable army of volunteers who selflessly give up their time for the cause and our friends at the North Devon Gazette who have worked tirelessly to promote the appeal week after week and keep it in the public eye.

“To each and every one of you involved in this astonishing fundraising effort, we cannot thank you enough.”

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.

Charlotte Overney, lead cancer nurse, said: “This modern and spacious unit, with its enhanced facilities, is a special place that will enrich the care and environment for patients at a time in their lives when they need it the most.

“We will now be able to treat many more people locally and offer a more personalised service with greater comfort, privacy and space to sit with families, which will make a huge difference to patients’ overall wellbeing.

“Our staff provide an excellent service and the Seamoor Unit will be a fitting environment from which to provide the very best, compassionate care.”

The public and staff were given an opportunity to tour the unit last week while Friday saw the draw for the Grand Car Raffle, one of the Chemotherapy Appeal’s final fundraising projects.

The year-long raffle raised more than £22,500 as entrants battled it out to win a brand new Kia Picanto courtesy of Parkside Kia in Newport, Barnstaple.

The Trust continues to raise vital funds to support its services 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.

COMMENTS ABOUT THE SEAMOOR UNIT BY HEALTH MINISTER NORMAN LAMB

Norman Lamb, the Minister for Care and Support, visited the Seamoor Unit with local MP Sir Nick Harvey during a tour of North Devon District Hospital on Wednesday 18 March, 2015.

Of the Seamoor Unit, Mr Lamb said: “It is beautiful.

“The quality of the building and facilities is just wonderful. It is amazing this has all been done because of local commitment and fundraising efforts.

“It is something the community will be incredibly proud of.”

NORMAN Lamb (left) is pictured with (from left) Charlotte Overney (lead cancer nurse), Ian Roome (fundraising manager), Emma Thoms (chemotherapy day treatment unit manager), Sir Nick Harvey, Jill Canning (divisional general manager for clinical support services), Rae Reynolds (operational capital manager) and Roger French (Trust chairman).

More information

• The former chemotherapy day treatment unit at NDDH oversaw around 6,500 contacts with North Devon patients each year. The Seamoor Unit is likely to oversee between 8,000 and 9,000 contacts with patients each year for treatment, as well as between 15,000 and 18,000 contacts via the outpatient areas.

Come along and see the new Chemotherapy and Day Treatment Unit. We are inviting all organisations and members of the public to book a tour of the new unit on Thursday 26th, Friday 27th and Saturday 28th March. Tours are half hourly and run from 9am until 4pm.

It will be an exciting opportunity to see the inside of this Eco-friendly building where our patients will receive their treatment and follow-up appointments.

Please contact us on 01271 322460 or 01271 311772 to book your place.