Work on teen cancer unit is set to begin within months

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 09:51

WORK on a cancer unit for teenagers at the Western General will start before the end of the year, well ahead of schedule after a major fundraising drive.

It has emerged today that the 500,000 campaign is nearing its conclusion, meaning the facility could be open early next year.

The drive formed the basis of the Evening News Christmas Campaign in December 2007. Generous readers raised tens of thousands of pounds and, together with other numerous donors, the fundraising target is now close to being met.

The much-anticipated facility means the many Lothians teenagers who find themselves alongside patients sometimes five time their age will be able to have their own space where they can mingle with each other.

It has been made possible by the Teenage Cancer Trust and a fundraising drive almost single-handedly co-ordinated by the Edinburgh-based fundraiser Lynne McNicoll. She said: "Every day in the UK six teenagers are diagnosed with cancer.

This figure is rising and there are already more young people than children with the disease.

"These young people often get a raw deal, receiving hospital treatment in inappropriate facilities that either cater for children or the elderly.

"The charity's aim is that, by 2012, every teenager will be treated in a specialist unit.

"We are therefore aiming to raise 500,000 for a new unit at the Western General. This unit will care for 16-24-year-olds with work expected to start at the end of 2009."

A temporary unit at the Sick Kids hospital in Sciennes is due to open within a few weeks.

Once the hospital moves into its new base at Little France it is hoped a similar unit is in place there.

That will mean every teenager diagnosed with cancer in the Lothians will no longer have to go into wards with either very young children or adults within three years.

One teenager who is behind the campaign is Silverknowes 19-year-old Kyle McPherson. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphona at the age of 15.

While he could not criticise the care itself, he always maintained the overall experience of cancer treatment would have been considerably more bearable with a specialised teenage unit.

"The care I received from my consultant and all the nursing staff was absolutely amazing and I cannot fault their care," he said.

"However, I was the youngest patient on the ward by more than 30 years which could be difficult at times.

"While I was brought up to be able to socialise with people of all ages, it was hard not to have people my own age to talk to or share my fears with.

"I decided to start fundraising for the TCT as soon as I was able to so that I could help other young people in the same situation."

CITY FIRM WINS WESTERN CONTRACT

A CAPITAL-based company has won a major contract to carry out refurbishment work at the Western General Hospital.

Housing and maintenance specialist Morris and Spottiswood has been chosen by NHS Lothian to refurbish and extend a ground-floor section of the Outpatient Department building.

The company, which has offices in Gorgie Road, has been selected for the 934,000 scheme which will significantly enlarge the Acute Receiving Assessment Unit.

Craig Murie, business unit director, said: "Careful planning and co-ordination will be adopted to ensure that disruption to staff and patients is minimised."

Work on the project is due to be completed in December.