New £2.2m chemo unit set to open at hospital

A NEW multi-million pound chemotherapy unit is set to be opened at Solihull Hospital.

The facility will be housed in the empty Bruce Burns Unit which was formerly a centre for those with mental health problems.

Costing £2.2 million, and with work beginning in the next couple of months, it is expected to be open in the summer.

The investment by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust will also create 51 new jobs for extra nurses, a dietician, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, consultants and support staff.

It will treat 24 patients at a time initially, rising to 31 within the next three years

The trust says patients will have better access to treatment within a more ‘peaceful and relaxed’ environment.

A garden and quiet room will be provided as well as easier parking and a separate entrance to the main hospital.

At present all chemotherapy patients treated by the trust, which runs Solihull Hospital, Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham and Good Hope Hospital have to go to Ward 19 at Heartlands or at the Sheldon Unit at Good Hope.

The move is expected to ease pressure at Heartlands although some patients with more complex needs will still undergo treatment there.

The trust also says patients will also be seen more quickly.

Sharon Rogers, group manager for oncology for the trust, said: “This new unit will make a big difference to patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and supportive treatments.

“It has been designed specifically with patients in mind and it will be purpose built for this sort of treatment.

“All in all, it will be a much better experience for people who need chemotherapy.

“Patients with more complex needs will still be given chemotherapy at Heartlands.”