Two units which provide vital care and treatment to some of the most unwell patients in Scotland have been transformed by NHS Lothian as part of a multi-million pound investment.
A new Cancer Assessment Unit (CAU) and an oncology ward for systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) are now open and delivering care to patients at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre (ECC).
The ECC, based in the Western General Hospital, supports an average of 7,000 inpatient admissions, 25,000 day-cases and 100,000 outpatient attendances each year from across the Lothians, Scottish Borders, Fife and Dumfries and Galloway.
The demand for treatment and services has significantly outgrown facilities and available space in recent times, but the new refurbishments have enabled significant modernisation to improve the care and overall experience for patients.
Chris Stirling, Site Director for the Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian, said: “This is a great step forward to upgrade our existing infrastructure.
“We know how important and reassuring a welcoming environment is at a worrying time, and we’re delighted that our current patients have access to better facilities.
“This is an important step in our ambition toward a new centre for the future of the southeast of Scotland to enable us to meet the rising demand of a growing population.”
The upgrades are part of a £24 million package of enabling works within oncology services, funded by the Scottish Government, which are due to be completed in 2024.
This is in advance of a longer-term plan for the full reprovision of the Edinburgh Cancer Centre which has been proposed by NHS Lothian in response to the population growth in the region and constraints of the existing ECC.
The refurbished SACT ward, which is where treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy are administered to patients, has seen an extensive programme of work – including new flooring, ceilings, paintwork, lighting, bed head services, fire safety upgrades and a new reception area.
There is now a dedicated space for patients to be assessed and prepped for their therapy, and comfortable chairs for patients to begin their treatment while awaiting a bed.
Four-bedded bays have been reconfigured into two-bedded bays, giving patients greater privacy. Where eight patients previously shared a bathroom, there is now an ensuite facility for every two beds.
The new CAU provides a fresh, purpose-built environment for patients to attend for assessment or diagnostic tests prior to potential admission to an inpatient hospital bed.
The CAU also has a dedicated family room with a double sofa bed and its own ensuite facility for relatives who may need to stay close to their loved one overnight.
Mrs McLean, 61 from Edinburgh, said: “Following a sudden and unexpected reaction to my treatment, I was taken to the new Cancer Assessment Unit. I was so grateful to be welcomed immediately by the medical team there.
“At such a worrying time for me, the nurses and doctor were not only reassuring, friendly and kind, but their professional clinical care was exceptional. Their thoughtfulness extended to my family sitting in the waiting area close to my treatment bay who were soon invited to join me.
“I really appreciated being in such a modern, comfortable facility and my experience of the CAU could not have been better or more positive. I can’t thank the medical staff enough for their excellent care of me in the new unit.”
