Teenage Cancer Trust unit opens its doors

27/04/09

Wales’ first Teenage Cancer Trust unit will open its doors to young cancer patients next week.

The £3.4 million unit at University Hospital of Wales will provide care for 14 to 23 year olds with cancer from across Wales. It is the first time specific provision has been made for teenagers and young people with cancer in Wales.

Coined ‘The Skypad’ because it has been built on stilts, the unit includes eight inpatient beds and day care facilities, and will provide a home from home for many young people and their families. Unlike ‘ordinary’ hospital wards, it has a chill-out zone, a private kitchen and access to media facilities such as the internet, TV and music.

The state-of-the-art unit is a result of years of tireless fundraising by Teenage Cancer Trust and supporters around the country. Since launching an ambitious appeal in 2004, the charity has been raising funds towards the cost of the £3.4 million unit, a figure now achieved.

Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust adds, “Due to its sophisticated architectural structure, this unique development has cost £3.4 million to build. The unit has been placed between the current paediatric and adult cancer units to allow a smooth transition for patients across the different services. To achieve this, the unit has been built on stilts and is one of Teenage Cancer Trust’s most advanced and specialist projects to date. We are incredibly excited to see the unit up and running and are confident that our patients, their families and unit staff will find it a very positive place to be.”

David Francis, Chair of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said: ‘We are hugely excited by the opening of ‘The Skypad’. The facilities are second to none and will offer tremendous support to young patients and their families. As well as providing superb age-appropriate facilities, it will be a focus for a highly skilled multidisciplinary team to develop excellent clinical care for teenagers.’

David Harris, Regional Director for Cowlin Construction in Wales said: “This unit is an excellent project for Cowlin to be involved in. We are honoured to be celebrating this milestone with Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Every day in the UK, six young people will have to face a cancer diagnosis. This is a rising figure and there are already more young people than children with the disease. Teenage Cancer Trust understands that teenage cancer requires specialist care in an environment suited to their needs.

Teenage Cancer Trust funds specialist teenage cancer units in NHS hospitals that are designed to give teenagers the very best chance of a positive outcome. It is estimates that, with the current units around the UK, only half of the young people diagnosed with cancer now have access to this dedicated, specialist support. The charity aims to build enough units so that, by 2012, every young person with cancer will be treated on one.

Donations are still needed for the upkeep of Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit once it has opened – all donations can be sent to Teenage Cancer Trust c/o Eidwwen Evans, 75 Oakleigh Park South, Whetstone, LONDON N20 9JL.