Counselling services are part of the offering at the Cancer Wellbeing Centre
Cancer patients and their loved ones can now start to benefit from more than just medical support and treatment at Colchester Hospital.
The Cancer Wellbeing Centre has been built in a quiet lakeside location close to the main hospital building so people can access its services in a peaceful area of calm away from clinical areas.
It will offer services and support in conjunction with The Collingwood Centre – the hospital’s new chemotherapy and haematology unit.
Generous donations to the Cancer Centre Campaign, run by the Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, made building the Cancer Wellbeing Centre possible.
Nick Hulme is Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester Hospital.
He said: “We are so grateful for everyone’s support and the donations, however large or small, people have made to the Cancer Centre Campaign.
“We now have a state-of-the art cancer centre at Colchester Hospital to treat patients in a more modern and calming environment and this outstanding wellbeing centre that will offer the additional support people absolutely need when they are affected by cancer.
“It means we can provide more than just treatment to support patients and their families with everything they are going through – from diagnosis, to treatment and how life changes after cancer too.”
Patients can be supported through their diagnosis and treatment at the Cancer Wellbeing Centre at Colchester Hospital
The Cancer Centre Campaign launched in 2014 with the aim of raising £3.25million to build a state-of-the-art cancer centre for patients in north Essex. The Collingwood Centre, which opened in November, has brought chemotherapy, haematology and radiotherapy under one roof at Colchester Hospital.
It will now be complemented by the Cancer Wellbeing Centre which will offer specialist information, advice and resources for patients, carers and families with support from other organisations, including:
- Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- Breast Cancer Now
- Look Good Feel Better
- Frobishers Wigs
Macmillan Programme Manager for ESNEFT Kathryn Ramsey said:
“The Cancer Wellbeing Centre has been designed with input and feedback from staff and the project team, but most importantly with people who have had cancer.
“We feel confident it will meet our patients’ needs by providing services in a relaxing and therapeutic environment to enhance and support their quality of life, as well as their loved ones. It has been a pleasure and privilege to work on this project.”
The Cancer Wellbeing Centre is in a quiet and peaceful location by the lake at Colchester Hospital
What the Cancer Wellbeing Centre team can do to help
The services provided at the Cancer Wellbeing Centre include:
- specialist information and advice
- quality resources
- counselling services
- complementary therapies
- physical activity services
- hair and skincare advice
- dietary advice
- practical support
- benefits advice and signposting
- a venue for self help and support groups
You can still support us to develop cancer wellbeing services further in the future.
Donate to the campaign on the Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals charity website (opens in new window)
Patients, families and carers are all able to access the support and services offered by the team at the Cancer Wellbeing Centre