Maggie’s has announced it will be opening a new centre in the grounds of the world-leading cancer centre, The Royal Marsden, in Sutton.
Working in partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the new facility will further enhance the patient care on offer, marking another step forward in the redevelopment of The Royal Marsden site.
The hospital treats 50,000 patients a year at facilities in Chelsea, London and Sutton. Many of these will face tough questions, exhausting treatment, and difficult emotions that can range from anxiety to loneliness and isolation. These challenges affect not only those with cancer, but their family and friends too.
Built in the grounds of NHS hospitals, Maggie’s Centres are warm and welcoming places, with qualified professionals on hand to offer a programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.
Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden will be designed by London-based studio, Ab Rogers Design, with landscaping by world-renowned landscape architect, Piet Oudolf. The centre will be there for anyone and everyone affected by cancer, offering an enhanced and unique evidence-based programme of support delivered in an uplifting, non-clinical environment.
Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with The Royal Marsden, which has such an amazing track record in cancer treatment and outstanding patient care. The new centre will allow us to extend our programme of support across London and Ab Rogers’ design will deliver the calm and uplifting space so vital to the support Maggie’s offers.”
Cally Palmer, chief executive of The Royal Marsden, added: “Treating people with cancer is not just about treating their disease. At The Royal Marsden we treat the whole person – their physical, emotional and psychological needs.
Working with Maggie’s to provide a new Maggie’s Centre will enable us to extend the level of non-clinical support in a beautiful environment which I hope will benefit as many of our patients, together with their friends and family, as possible.”
The new centre will be at the heart of a natural landscape within the hospital grounds and will be surrounded by a number of existing mature trees.
The design has been developed from the inside out and focuses on creating the best visitor experience possible. Internal courtyard gardens will provide both communal and private spaces and the building will be flooded with natural light with views over the landscape.
A planning application is due to be submitted in early summer 2015, with the aim to open the centre in early 2017.
There is currently only one Maggie's Centre in west London, built within the grounds of Charing Cross Hospital.
