Plans to develop a combined Oncology and Haematology Day Unit at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby have been given the green light. 

Over £1 million is to be invested into the scheme which will increase Haematology and Oncology Services in Rugby, and bring chemotherapy services for the first time to the Barby Road site.   

The construction phase is starting from Monday 28th September and should be completed by early 2021.

This self-contained department in the old Mulberry Ward will provide a modern, state of the art facility for Haematology and Oncology patients to receive day case treatments and outpatient consultations close to home.

More complex Haematology and Oncology services will continue to be delivered on site at University Hospital in Coventry.

Alistair McIntosh, former Director of Clinical Physics and Biomedical engineering at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and Chairman for Coventry Hospitals Charity, said: “This expanded facility for patients will house five consulting rooms and nine treatment chairs as well as a treatment room for minor procedures.  

“This new facility will enable us to provide treatment locally for patients receiving chemotherapy at the Hospital of St Cross and we acknowledge the generous support of The Friends of St Cross who have committed to supporting the soft furnishings and equipment for this new facility.”

Professor Kiran Patel, Interim Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officer for UHCW, commented: “We are committed to providing high quality cancer services and meeting the future needs of our patients. This new service in Rugby will help us meet the rising demands for cancer services and provide timely delivery of care and maintain a world class service.

“I would like thank the Coventry Hospitals Charity and the Friends of St Cross for pooling their resources in order to make this long term vision a reality for Oncology and Haematology services."

This major investment is being made by Coventry Hospitals Charity, a charity founded by healthcare staff and local businesses in the 1980s, which has donated an £845,000 for the building work and redevelopment of the site. 

£200,000 is also being donated from fund-raising by the Friends of St Cross, for specialist equipment and furniture within the suite including nine treatment chairs.

Willy Goldschmidt, Chairman of the Friends of St Cross, said: “We are delighted to support this project with the largest single donation that the Charity will have made.

“We believe that almost everyone in Rugby will know of someone who has had a diagnosis of cancer and will value this development”. 

In addition to this sizeable charitable investment, UHCW NHS Trust has invested over £2 million in improvements to the Rugby site in 2019/20 and is investing a further £111,000 for a new roof, windows and project management resources for the new unit as part of their ongoing investment in the hospital.