The Cancer Day Unit at Guy's Hospital reopened in
February 2011 following a £3.9 million refurbishment funded by the
Charity, transforming it into a 'state of the art' facility for
chemotherapy patients.
Supporting world class cancer care for South East London
informed by research and teaching is a priority shared by the
Charity and King's Health Partners.
The redesign of the Cancer Day Unit is part of King's Health
Partners' vision to develop a major Cancer Treatment Centre at
Guy's. This Centre will combine exceptional clinical care with
leading edge research and teaching for the benefit of cancer
patients not only locally, but also further afield.
The redesign of the Unit has led to significant improvements in
the patient experience. Related services have been co-located on
one floor, facilities improved, and the operational policy changed
to introduce greater teamwork among staff, and more direct patient
interaction.
In line with the Charity's aim to empower health practitioners,
patients, service users and the local community to work together to
improve healthcare, the changes were achieved with the help of a
Chemotherapy Patients' Working Group, who were consulted on every
aspect of the redesign from layout to operational policy, equipment
and artwork.
As a result, the changes have been immense and far-reaching. For
the first time, services including pharmacy, acute oncology,
counselling, complementary therapies and outpatient services are
co-located on the same floor, with patients treated by the same
team each visit and alongside others with similar diagnoses. An
acute oncology assessment unit is also situated on site, offering
an alternative to Accident and Emergency for chemotherapy patients
who become ill after treatment.
Other changes include greater privacy and comfort for patients
with access to single patient rooms, multi-purpose consultation
rooms, a coffee lounge, and internet access during treatment. The
Unit was also awarded the national Building Better Healthcare award
for the Best Use of Visual Arts in Healthcare.
Jason Pawluk, quality and productivity lead for the Cancer
Programme said: "The new unit has improved communication lines
between departments, reduced errors, and helped improve how people
work together. Because everyone is here together, staff speak more
often, and everything runs more smoothly, which has resulted in
very positive feedback from patients."
Anna Torode, one of the patients who contributed to the design
of the unit, said: "I am delighted that patients have been able to
contribute so significantly to the design of this wonderful unit. I
particularly value the colour schemes and the artwork which
together help create a calming and uplifting environment. The staff
and service provided here all have the patient at heart."
Artworks in the Cancer Day unit
The Charity is committed to integrating the arts into its health
improvement activities where this will bring added value, it
therefore allocated one per cent of the funding towards
commissioning artists Heather Barnett and poet Will Holloway to
produce site specific artworks. A range of artworks, including
wallpaper, wall vinyls and etched glass privacy screens were
produced to enhance the environment.
As with the unit redesign, patients were engaged in the creative
process. The work, Flow, for example, which greets visitors as they
approach the reception, draws upon the unit's stunning views across
London and incorporates ideas raised by patients, carers and staff
around the themes of city life, navigation and the flow of
nature.
The unit was awarded the 2011 Building Better Healthcare award for
the Best Use of Visual Arts in Healthcare.