New day care centre for Lanarkshire cancer sufferers

Jul 31 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

A NEW day care centre for Lanarkshire people with cancer and other serious illnesses was officially opened last week.

It’s sited in the Red Deer Centre at Westwood, East Kilbride, and jointly funded by the Kilbryde Hospice Appeal and NHS Lanarkshire.

Appeal chairman Tony McGuinness believes the drop-in centre will be a significant step towards their aim of establishing a second in-patient hospice in Lanarkshire.

Jim McColl OBE, chairman and chief executive of East Kilbride-based company Clyde Blowers and the hospice appeal’s biggest single benefactor, performed the opening ceremony last Thursday.

It is hoped that up to 400 people a year will take advantage of the four-room facility that has a specialist nurse, Joanna Dunlop, plus a quiet room, therapy and consulting room, open area for tea and coffee and a garden with seating.

Patients will be offered information and advice, and access to both a consultant-led symptom clinic and complementary medicine. o referrals are required and patients and their families will be made welcome.

Donors across Lanarkshire have contributed to the Kilbryde Hospital Apeal that has raised £1.8m over seven years.

Mr McGuinness, a founder member of the appeal, said: "The day care facility has been a long time coming - too long - but at long last the people of South Lanarkshire have something to show for their years of hard campaigning and fundraising.

"It is the first step towards the provision of an in-patient facility.

“And I am sure everyone will welcome this milestone on the road and will keep the cash coming in.”

He is confident that work on a purpose-built hospice in the grounds of Hairmyres Hospital will begin next year.

A spokesman for NHS Lanarkshire said they were committed to working with Kilbryde Hospice Appeal towards provision of up to a six-bed facility within Hairmyres hospital.

He added, however, “Work still needs to be undertaken jointly between us and the Kilbryde Hospice Appeal to produce detailed proposals which will ensure the development of a safe, clinical model that represents best value and can be sustained.”

To meet the costs of the drop-in centre, the Hospice Appeal and NHS Lanarkshire will each pay £50,000 in the first year, £100,000 in the second year and £150,000 the following year, with recurring costs for future years.

The unit is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and can be contacted on 01355 593484.