The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital is celebrating its 10th anniversary since it first opened its doors to patients.
Staff and representatives from organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support and the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance, marked the occasion with a tour of the centre followed by tea and cakes.
Funded by Sir Robert Ogden, Macmillan Cancer Support and Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, the £8 million Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre has been providing first class cancer care to patients across the Harrogate district since it opened in March 2014.
The centre offers a range of diagnostic, treatment and support services for people with cancer. These include a systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) unit providing cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and oncology and haematology clinics appointments through its outpatient clinics.
The Macmillan Cancer Information Support Service at the centre offers a range of free and confidential health and wellbeing services to support patients and their families at each stage of the cancer diagnosis. Advice includes information on welfare and benefits – since 2014 more than 5,500 people been referred to the centre’s Welfare Benefit Advisor and have claimed over £20 million.
Alongside this core offering, the centre also boasts a range of unique complementary therapies such as reflexology, providing positive benefits to people undergoing treatment and living with cancer. The holistic approach of the dedicated professionals at the centre sets a continued gold standard of care.
In 2023, 13,000 treatments were provided at The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre, double the number since the centre first opened, and over 3,000 outpatient consultations were held.
Over the last ten years, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) has continued to work closely with Macmillan Cancer Support who have supported the education and training of staff, and assisted with the implementation of personalised care and support plans for patients.
Emma Nunez, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and Deputy Chief Executive at HDFT said: “One in two people with be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and even more people will be affected due to loved ones being diagnosed with the disease.
“Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be devastating, and it is important that they have access to the best possible treatment. Over the last ten years, we have transformed the way we provide care for people diagnosed with cancer. Our state of the art Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre has managed to help so many people – not just with treatment, but also by providing information and support to anyone who needs it.
“Improvements in cancer treatment are allowing people to live longer after their diagnosis and we are extremely proud of the service we have provided to tens of thousands of people since the centre opened in 2014. I would like to thank all of our colleagues and volunteers who have worked at the centre for their commitment to providing the highest quality care to our patients.”
Lady Ogden who attended the event said: “My husband, Sir Robert, was passionate about transforming access to high-quality cancer care for the communities of Yorkshire. It was wonderful to celebrate this special milestone recently along with the inspiring nurses, professionals and volunteers that enable the legacy of his support to shine brighter than ever. I am immensely proud of the dedicated Macmillan nurses and all they continue to achieve, treating each patient as an individual with unique support needs.
“I was touched by the patients’ warm welcome and listening to their stories and experiences at The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre lightened my heart.
“My husband once said – ‘Helping others in need…brings the most profound happiness in the purest sense. I feel not only humbled and privileged to be able to help others, I feel happily obliged to do so’ – and I feel exactly the same. Each one of us has the power to help, and any contribution will be immensely important and valued.”
Sarah Grant, Macmillan CNS Workforce Programme Manager at West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, said: “The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre provides support services to the local community which are greatly valued. As a Cancer Alliance seeking to bring partners together to transform outcomes, we are delighted to see the continued success of the Centre and the important contribution it continues to make to supporting people affected by cancer.”