World Class Cancer Care Facilities
Earlier this month I was delighted to attend the official opening of the Primrose Chemotherapy Suite and East Lancashire Breast Clinic at Burnley General Teaching Hospital.
The new chemotherapy and breast care facilities are the latest development to open as part of an ongoing £18.1 million investment in facilities at Burnley General Hospital, something I have campaigned hard for over a number of years
The new £750,000 chemotherapy and breast care facilities, located in the hospital’s Edith Watson building (Area 3), will dramatically improve the treatment and care experience for patients. Partially paid for by £116,000 in public donations following a hugely successful fundraising campaign organised by Rosemere Cancer Foundation, the entire chemotherapy and breast care suites are far more spacious than previous facilities, enabling staff to create a calming, relaxed atmosphere enhanced by natural light with views to Pendle Hill.
Named in honour of Primrose Farm which stood on the Burnley Hospital site as far back as the 1800s, the new facilities also provide patients 10 dedicated parking spaces directly outside the Edith Watson entrance. The Primrose Chemotherapy Suite increases East Lancashire Hospital’s capacity for chemotherapy treatment by 29 per cent and aims to offer chemotherapy within five days of referral. The Suite features a large seated observation lounge, four extra treatment rooms, a state of the art Sensory Room, counselling room and its own dedicated reception and waiting area.
Integrating the chemotherapy and breast care units means patients are able to have screening, consultations and any chemotherapy, all within the same area. This is much more convenient as currently, to access both services, patients have to visit different sites in different parts of the hospital.
The official opening of the new Chemotherapy Suite came just a couple of weeks after the official opening of the Elective Centre at Burnley General. The innovative Lancashire Elective Centre represents a £1.5 million investment in facilities at Burnley General. It means the hospital now has extra capacity to perform more planned surgery, there will be fewer cancellations and they can meet the increased demand for short stay surgery and minor procedures.