EJU Background
Background
At the present time the majority of chemotherapy is given in the Oncology Centre at Cheltenham General Hospital. People from Gloucester, Stroud and the Forest of Dean have to travel to Cheltenham for their treatment; hence there is a huge demand on the 'chair space' for chemotherapy and for blood transfusion at Cheltenham. Many patients have to wait several days for transfusion due to lack of space. Cheltenham patients currently have a 'two-stop' visit, involving an appointment followed by attendance at the Oncology Day Unit.
Present Set Up
The Edward Jenner Unit comprises 2 consultation rooms together with adjoining examination rooms: 1 room dedicated to the anticoagulant service; 1 room for the Haematology Specialist nurse which is shared with the haemoglobinopathy nurse; 2 phlebotomy rooms; a central patient waiting area with a reception desk for 3 staff; a blood transfusion room with 7 reclining chairs; a treatment room with 3 beds; a staff room with kitchen; 1 office; clean and dirty utility rooms and 1 staff and 1 patient toilet.
It is situated very close to the haemotology consultants' offices and to the haematology laboratory.
Reason for Extending the Unit
To create additional out patient and day case capacity to deal with the increasing demand for chemotherapy and other treatments such as blood transfusion.
Benefits
Patients could be booked into the LINC suite at the Edward Jenner Unit from either Gloucestershire Royal or Cheltenham General Hospital giving more freedom and choice and allowing chemotherapy for patients from the west of the county to be carried out more locally in Gloucester. This would be an enormous benefit to those living in the Forest of Dean area.
The extension would relieve pressure on the chemotherapy outpatient area at Cheltenham Hospital and would provide a designated side room to enable patients with infections such as C.Difficile and MRSA to be treated, reducing the risk of cross infection to other patients.
Provision of an open plan treatment area that will provide a significantly safer clinical area within which patients can be seen and monitored at all times. This is of paramount importance for the safe administration of transfusions and other treatments.
It would provide a separate interview room where staff will be able to speak confidentially and privately with patients and their relatives.
There is an opportunity within the constructions of this build to implement operational changes within the Edward Jenner Unit that will create a new counselling office and a new sister’s office.
Where we are to date
Work on the Edward Jenner Unit commenced on 13 June 2011. The builders did come across a few problems that were unexpected but overall everything has gone reasonably smoothly. During the course of this work a decision was taken to revamp and redecorate the phlebotomy room at an extra cost of £17,000. This was not accounted for in the initial funding and there will also be an extra cost to furnish this new area. It is very exciting and the unit is looking amazing but in the end there has been an overspend for LINC of £50,000.
The building work should be completed by the end of October. There will then be a period of 2 weeks when the unit undergoes deep cleaning and for the new furnishings to all be installed. Hopefully the unit will be open to patients towards the beginning of November.
The new tranquillity garden will not be completed at this stage. We are still trying to raise £10,000 to fund this project which has been generously designed by Graduate Gardeners. LINC is very grateful to everyone who has supported us so far in any way with this project but would ask for your continuing support until we can completely fund all the furnishings for this new county wide day unit facility. Pictures on this website were taken on 30 September 2011.
How you can help
- Hold a fundraising event in aid of this appeal. A coffee morning, book swap, plant or cake sale, raffle are just a few simple ideas. Read more about fundraising here.
- Take part in one of LINC’s sponsored events
- Make a donation – this can be done by cheque or online. Click here if you would like to make a donation. Cheques should be made payable to LINC
- Leave a legacy in your will. Click here for more information.
- Payroll giving – ask your employer if they are registered. Click here for more information about payroll giving.
- Become a regular donor – forms are available from the LINC office
- Ask for donations to LINC in lieu of birthday presents or Christmas cards
- Collect your loose change – boxes available from the Edward Jenner Unit or the LINC office
- Support the fundraising events organised by LINC. Click here to go to our events page.
**The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund awards grants for research on aspects of leukaemia and for relevant studies on related haematological malignancies. Grants are awarded for first class research on innovative proposals, particularly those close to the care of leukaemia patients or the prevention of leukaemia or related diseases. Programme/Project grants are awarded twice yearly, and Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Fellowships of 3 – 5 years are awarded annually. The Fund also considers support for capital projects that will have direct benefit to leukaemia patient care. For more information please see the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund website.
