RUH marks one year of Dyson Cancer Centre construction with a look behind the hoardings

The Royal United Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) has released a video to mark one year since breaking ground on construction of the new Dyson Cancer Centre.

In an incredible 12 months of activity, the three-story building has emerged from behind the hoardings, the exterior work is almost complete and work is well underway to partition the internal spaces which will bring together the majority of the RUH's cancer services under one roof.

Staff who will be working in the new centre have joined behind the hoardings tours, to start to get a feel for the new building ahead of relocating next year. As the site is not open to the public, the RUH has instead put together a short film, available for all to view here.

Dyson Cancer Centre - behind the hoardings

It provides a sneak peak behind the scenes and an update on project progress, including a first look at the interior design scheme and some of the art and sculpture that has been commissioned for the new centre.

Libby Walters, Deputy Chief Executive and senior responsible officer for the project, said: "After all those years of careful planning and preparation it's so exciting to watch the Dyson Cancer Centre come to life.

"This building will help us transform the cancer services we provide for our South West community, and ensure we can retain and attract the very best staff to deliver high quality care.

"As well as delivering clinical excellence, a key part of the Dyson Cancer Centre is the therapeutic design. We're creating a building that promotes a feeling of calm as soon as you enter, a quiet environment which makes use of natural light, external spaces, greenery and artwork, all known to have a positive effect on healing and the patient experience."

Oncology, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services will be amongst those housed in the new centre, along with a 22-bed inpatient ward, research team, a dedicated pharmacy, family accommodation and our nuclear medicine and physics teams.

The centre will also feature a Macmillan Wellbeing Hub - a non-clinical, calming space where patients, families and carers can receive practical and emotional support.

Richard Pugh, Macmillan Cancer Care Head of Partnerships Wales and South West, said: "It is fantastic to see the progress the Dyson Cancer Centre has made in the last year. The Hub will be a building for the future, ensuring that cancer care, treatment, information and support services in Bath and North East Somerset meet ever growing demand from people with cancer to their carers and their families. It will help them every step of the way through cancer from diagnosis, during treatment, in recovery, and at the end of life."

Construction partner Kier has overseen the project, which remains on track to open for patients late autumn 2023. David Snell, strategic healthcare director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: "We are excited to be marking exactly one year on this fantastic site. The team working on the site over the past 12 months have done an exemplary job and it is great to see the progress it has made.

"This flagship project will, when completed, provide state-of-the-art amenities for patients and will be a vital asset to the local area.

"It also sees us continue a 10-year relationship with the RUH which has seen Kier support the phased redevelopment of the site including delivery of the William Herschel Pathology Laboratory and Mortuary, the Forbes Fraser Pharmacy and the RNHRD and Brownsword Therapies Centre."

To find out more about the new centre and keep up to date on the latest progress visit our website:

www.ruh.nhs.uk/dysoncancercentre

ENDS

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