Transforming cancer care and research

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the UK and it is estimated that one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.

The new Cancer Centre at Guy's brings together most treatment and research under one roof. Previously cancer care was provided in 13 different locations across the St Thomas' and Guy's sites. This will stop people traveling unnecessarily bring professionals more closely together.

The new Centre is a place for outstanding cancer care and cutting-edge research, a friendly and state-of-the-art facility where patients are diagnosed, prescribed their medication and treated under one roof. 

We have supported the creation of the new Centre by providing a grant of £25 million towards high quality equipment and an additional £1.7 million towards an integrated programme of visual and performing arts to enhance the experience of patients, families, staff and visitors. We're also driving a fundraising appeal to complete the centre. 

The building has been designed by Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners, and specialist healthcare architects Stantec, and built by Laing O’Rourke. The award-winning design reflects two complementary aspects of cancer care – the ‘Science of Treatment’, which houses the clinical and technological facilities, and the ‘Art of Care’, which features more social and interactive areas.

Changing ways of working

The new building applies a model of care which is patient-centred. A 'hub & spoke' approach means that clinicians go to the patient - who remains in the same consultation room - instead of patients having to go to clinicians based in different consultation rooms.

Designed by patients for patients, the Cancer Centre is made up of a series of 'villages' dedicated to different aspects of cancer care - including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and outpatients clinics. The design also brings relevant services together – for example, the pharmacy service is now inside the Chemotherapy Village, making the preparation of drugs easier and faster. 

New technology and equipment is also playing a major part to improve care. Six state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines will increase the number of people treated every year. Having a full blood count machine within the building, combined with optimised processes, will allow results from many blood tests to be available in time for consultations. Supported by volunteers, new self check-in and call forward systems will streamline the arrival of patients and their journeys within the Centre, minimising the risk of missed appointments. 

"The new Cancer Centre at Guy’s demonstrates collaboration with patients and where the future of NHS care lies.' - Anne Rainsberry, Regional Director NHS England (London region)

The power of art

The new Cancer Centre at Guy’s includes a programme of unique arts, including five bespoke commissions spanning sculpture, furniture, film, light installations and graphics.

The artists worked in consultation with the Cancer Centre's design team to ensure that the commissions responded to the building's award winning design to make the Centre a welcoming and engaging space.

The artworks invite patients, visitors and staff to engage - they give them chances to contemplate, rest and be inspired in what may be a very difficult time in their lives. They also help them find their way through the building.

People affected by cancer have been at the heart of the development of the arts programme from concept to delivery. Along with staff, they have helped select the artists and the works for the new building.  

The programme has been funded through a grant from us and donations from generous supporters. Donations continue to be received to enrich the programme further and to help maintain the artworks.

Find out more about the artworks and artists behind them.

Benefits and impact

The new Cancer Centre at Guy’s brings the majority of cancer services from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and cancer research by King’s College London under one roof. This aims to make care more 'joined-up' and holistic, and to ensure that both patients and staff spend less time and energy travelling between hospital sites. Measures are in place to evaluate the benefits and impact of the new building and ways of working.

The new Centre applies a 'hub & spoke' model where patients are truly at the heart. A pilot which tested aspects of the model in oncology outpatients at Guy’s Hospital in summer 2016 reduced waiting times for patients and late finishes (clinics finishing more than 60 minutes late were reduced from 55% to 27%, clinics finishing more than 90 minutes went down from over 30% to 14%).

New technology and equipment is also playing a major part to improve care, for example by increasing the people who can receive radiotherapy treatment every year or minimising the risk of missed appointments.

For the first time, psychological support will be available alongside treatment within one building for patients at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. 

To help make clinical trials a normalised part of a cancer journey, the team now have a dedicated space inside the Chemotherapy Village. The goal is to increase participation by 30% – leading to more breakthroughs, speeding up adoption of new research and improving medical research education.