New Cancer Information and Wellbeing Service pod opens its doors
A free-standing, modular “pod” has been installed next to the Cancer Care and Haematology Unit (CCHU) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to provide a calm and comfortable space for patients, their families and staff to have informal and relaxed meetings away from the bustle of the CCHU treatment area.
The new facility, designed to a high environmental standard, has been provided by the Cancer Care and Haematology Fund (CCHF) charity which kindly donated £100,000 for this special area. The charity supports people who are being treated for cancer and haematology illnesses in Buckinghamshire.
Above: The pod was officially opened on 3 October 2024 by Trust Chief executive officer, Neil Macdonald; Michelle Pearsall, Macmillan Matron for oncology and Haematology; Kate Harris-Haigh, Cancer Information and Wellbeing Lead for the Trust and by Dr Ann Watson, Chair of the Cancer Care and Haematology Charity.
Michelle Pearsall, Macmillan Matron for oncology and Haematology said: “The pod is a calm and welcoming space where people can come in, have a cup of tea and get the advice and support they need. It’s great that it is right beside but separate from the main Cancer Unit and we hope people will pop in and visit our cancer information and wellbeing team as and when they feel they need to. We’re incredibly grateful to CCHF charity for its continued support of our unit.”
Chair of the Cancer Care and Haematology Charity, Dr Ann Watson, said: “The Cancer Care and Haematology Fund are so pleased to have been able to assist in the provision of this exciting and innovative building for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Our charity was established for this very purpose: to fund additional comfort and care for those who are suffering from cancer and haematology illnesses. This building will do just that and our many wonderful supporters and fundraisers will be delighted”.
Watch a short video about the new pod in which Kate Harris-Haigh, Cancer Information and Wellbeing Lead, explains how it will be used: