Top Building Award for Moray Cancer Centre
A NEW award that recognises high standards in the design of cancer care buildings has been awarded toThe Oaks palliative care day centre in Elgin. The Macmillan Quality Environment Mark is the first ofits kind in the UK and the Moray centre is among the first sites to be given the award.It is the first scheme that specifically assesses how well buildings such as chemotherapy units provide support and care to people affected by cancer. The award has been developed in collaboration withpeople living with cancer and organisations including the Department of Health.The award was presented to Susan Sutherland, Macmillan Development Manager for the north of Scotland,at a prestigious ceremony in London on 14 Jan 2010. She received the award on behalf of The Oaks from Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director at the Department of Health, and Macmillan Cancer Support chief executive Ciaran Devane.
Sandra Anderson, unit manager at The Oaks in Elgin, said: “ We are delighted to have been given this prestigious award. It reflects the hard work and dedication of the team that designed the centre and all the staff and volunteers who work to make the centre a welcoming and supportive environment for patients and their families.”
The Macmillan Quality Environment Mark will help to ensure that people affected by cancer are treated and supported in physical environments of uniformly high quality. The scheme is open to anyhealthcare providers from the public, voluntary or private sectors that operate cancer care buildings. Nicola Cook, national project manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, explained how the cancer environments are assessed. She said: “To receive the award environments have to score highly in areas such as use of space, comfort and atmosphere, personal and social interaction and health and well being. “Consideration is given to such things as the greeting people receive when they come to a centre, theuse of natural light and outdoor space and the availability of quiet, private rooms – all areas thatwere highlighted as really important by people living with cancer who helped develop the award. “Sean Coady, NHS Grampian lead nurse for Moray, added: “We are very pleased to receive this award andhope this good work will inspire others and we can share our success. "Organisations can apply to be assessed for the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark via www.macmillan.org.uk/cancerenvironments.
For further information contact: Linda Summerhayes or Michelle Gallacher at Macmillan Cancer Support on 0131 260 3720.
About Macmillan Cancer Support: Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. two million of usare living with it.
If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help.
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