Pave Aways has started work on an extension to the Hamar Centre, which provides counselling and support for people with cancer, at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
The project is being delivered by the Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support in partnership with other local charities.
SaTH provides counselling and well-being services at the Hamar Centre for individuals with cancer and other life-threatening conditions. The new extension and refurbishment of the centre will see the existing Macmillan Cancer Support Service, which provides information and advice to people living with cancer and their loved ones, relocated to a larger space within the Hamar Centre, and will include a new quiet room for patients and carers and more facilities for counselling and well-being services provided by the Trust.
Tudor Humphreys, Macmillan Partnership Manager, said: ‘We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust to create a new Macmillan Cancer Support Service.
‘Macmillan’s ambition is to ensure that everyone with cancer gets the support they need from the moment they are diagnosed. Planned improvements to the service will mean that this is possible. The extra space and resources will enable staff and volunteers to provide specialist cancer information and support to more people living with cancer throughout Shropshire.’
The new facility will be re-positioned next to the main entrance of the Hamar Centre, making it much more visible and accessible for patients and giving the Macmillan Cancer Support Service the space to expand its offer to include cancer information, welfare benefits advice, emotional and practical support and signposting to support groups and other services.
Macmillan Cancer Support is the main funder for the build and the other local charity partners within the Trust have also put forward a total of £120,000 towards the cost of the development.
Managing Director of Pave Aways Steven Owen, said: “Once completed, the new facility will significantly enhance the services on offer to patients across Shropshire, which is fantastic news. As work gets under way, our experience in the health sector means we have the knowledge and skills to deliver the project while ensuring the day-to-day business of caring for patients is not disrupted.”
The new centre is scheduled to open in summer 2020.