Cancer Research UK Chairman, Lord Stevens, tours ‘excellent’ expanding facilities at West Berkshire Community Hospital
Chairman of Cancer Research UK, Simon Stevens, recently visited West Berkshire Community Hospital to see its expanding facilities.
On Tuesday, June 11, Lord Stevens attended a conference at the Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa on palliative care.
But he started the day by visiting the hospital, where he was shown round by Rob Tayton and Keith Endersby, of the Newbury and Thatcham Hospital Building Trust, and Paul Millard, of Newbury Cancer Care — both charities managed by volunteers.
“We are very lucky to have such a wonderful facility in the Newbury area to provide treatment close to home for patients”, said Dr Tayton, who added WBCH is likely the most up to date community hospital in the UK.
Lord Stevens first met head nurse, Eileen Henderson, and was then shown a Rainbow Room, which provides patients with palliative care.
He was told how the hospital’s end of life care was expanding with the development of Butterfly Rooms — specialist rooms with patio doors opening onto gardens.
From here, he was taken to the X-ray department, where he learnt the hospital had been made a Community Diagnostic Centre for West Berkshire.
New state of the art X-ray equipment is already operational.
But building work is currently under way to provide a DEXA Scanner — to diagnose osteoporosis — and two new ultrasound machines.
A diagnostic mammogram room is also expected by the end of August, so patients with breast disease are investigated and biopsied locally rather than travelling up to Reading.
Lord Stevens was then showed the renal dialysis ward, which is operational six days a week.
He then visited the cancer care centre, where chemotherapy treatment is provided.
There are currently four chemotherapy chairs, but this number is expected to double as this facility is expanded.
“Lord Stevens was very impressed with the achievements of the charities involved, and said it was the best community hospital he has seen,” added Dr Tayton.
Future plans at the hospital include building a new MRI centre, where two up to date MRI machines will be provided.
And the Building Trust is planning to provide further car parking spaces.
