Endeavour delivers cancer care rewards

While the ability to offer the highest level of clinical care is a must in any hospital, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation was also determined, when it redeveloped its Radiotherapy Unit into what it believes is currently considered to be the UK’s most up-to-date unit of its type, to create an environment far removed from the hospital environment of old. The existing, early 1980s-built radiotherapy facility had been extended piecemeal, which meant it was able to deliver services, but not necessarily in the best environment, and did not in fact provide sufficient linear accelerator (linac) services for the 1.1 million population it serves from the South Tees region, Durham Dales, and North Yorkshire, within the North of England Cancer Network South, of which it is part. In order to further raise it operational throughput capacity, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was faced with two choices: one was to carry on extending, but this was deemed to be the poorer option, as it was felt that, in so doing, the needs of the patients, with particular regard to privacy and dignity, would not be best served. Therefore the decision was taken to opt for the second choice – construction of a new satellite building, combined with remodelling and refurbishment of existing parts of the hospital. It was also the Trust’s desire that the building should be as energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly as possible in order to achieve the recently introduced NHS criteria for a BREEAM “Excellent” rating.

A less intimidating environment

While the primary motivation for developing the new unit was to meet the national target to deliver radiotherapy treatment, as set out by the NRAG (National Radiotherapy Advisory Group), in its Developing a world class service for England, Report to Ministers 2007, the Trust also wanted a facility which would create an environment where patients, their families, and loved ones, would be comfortable, less fearful, and not intimidated or over-whelmed when attending for treatment. Speaking about the project, Chris Walker, head of radiotherapy physics at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Trust has been treating a great many cancer patients over the years. However we had reached a stage with our existing facilities where we were able to strategically review how the services were being delivered, and how best, using the P21 method of procurement, we could improve the current level of care and, importantly, future-proof our capabilities, so far as is practicably possible, to meet the demands which will inevitably be placed on Trust by the growth in the rate of cancer cases. This is particularly applicable in the South Tees region, given the area’s past heavy industrial background, and the problems associated with poverty and deprivation, as well as an ageing population. “The hospital environment has a significant impact not only on the patient, but also affects those close to them. This is particularly true of cancer patients who, when undergoing treatment, do not just drop in for a one-off session, but are more likely to attend the unit daily for weeks at a time. For this reason, the Trust placed equal importance on the environment in which patients would be treated. That is why we chose to opt for a new building which would give us the opportunity to develop a modern contemporary space incorporating the latest in cancer care technology – a facility with a feel and character far removed from the hospital waiting rooms and treatment rooms of old – which I truly believe we have achieved.“