A NEW £1million purpose-built Haematology and Oncology unit has been officially opened at the Hospital of St Cross.
At the official opening ceremony, staff and patients were joined by Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW), Dame Stella Manzie, Chair of UHCW, and representatives from the charities who helped fund the development of The Maple Unit.
The unit, which has five outpatient consultation rooms and nine day case treatment chairs, means Haematology and Oncology outpatient appointments are now available in Rugby.
Construction to transform the old Mulberry Ward into the Maple Unit started in September last year and was completed in June, thanks to donations from local charities.
Coventry Hospitals Charity, an independent charity founded by healthcare staff and local businesses in the 1980s, donated £845,000 for the building work and redevelopment of the site.
And the Friends of St Cross fundraised £200,000 for the specialist equipment and furniture within, including the nine treatment chairs.
Consultant Haematologist Dr Beth Harrison said: “It is really wonderful to be able to treat patients at The Maple Unit, it is such a lovely facility. The transformation from a disused ward to this special unit is incredible.”
Lead Nurse for Chemotherapy Services Sam Neale added: “The opening of The Maple Unit is fantastic for our patients, expanding our capacity for treatment across the region.
“It is a fantastic addition to the care we provide at the Hospital of St Cross and continues our drive to deliver care closer to home for our patients.”
Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of UHCW, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring a service to Rugby that has never been available in the town before.
“By providing this important patient care closer to people’s doorsteps in a brand new facility we will be able to provide a complete all round service which aligns with our existing services.
“The opening of The Maple Unit also further shows our commitment to Rugby and the Hospital of St Cross as well as our priority to put our patients first.”
Last year the Trust invested more than £2million improving older buildings at Rugby, on LED lighting, modernising electrics and general refurbishments across the Barby Road site.
Haematology and Oncology services continue to be delivered at University Hospital in Coventry.
