Planning application made for creation of £1m care centre

A planning application for a £1 million state-of-the-art cancer care centre at Altnagelvin Hospital has been submitted to planners.
An external image of what the new Macmillan Cancer Care Centre at Altnagelvin will look like.An external image of what the new Macmillan Cancer Care Centre at Altnagelvin will look like.
An external image of what the new Macmillan Cancer Care Centre at Altnagelvin will look like.

The proposal will see the creation of Northern Ireland’s first health and wellbeing campus for people living with long term and often degenerative illnesses, and their carers.

The application is being put forward by the Western Health and Social Care Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

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If unchallenged by planners, it will see the creation of a new stand-alone health and wellbeing campus at Altnagelvin for use by patients, carers and families affected by cancer and other long term conditions, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and hypertension.

An artist's impression of the interior of the new Macmillan Cancer Cate Centre.An artist's impression of the interior of the new Macmillan Cancer Cate Centre.
An artist's impression of the interior of the new Macmillan Cancer Cate Centre.

The joint plans include the construction of a purpose-built Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre beside Agnes Jones House, which will be refurbished and used as a centre for the management of other long term and chronic conditions.

The proposed development will incorporate an interlinking walkway and garden between the two buildings.

Construction work is due to begin this Autumn and it is hoped the new campus will be fully operational by late 2016, to coincide with the opening of the new Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin.

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New artist’s images of what interior and exterior will look like have been released, and are reproduced here.

An artist's impression of what the kitchen in the new facility will look like.An artist's impression of what the kitchen in the new facility will look like.
An artist's impression of what the kitchen in the new facility will look like.

Welcoming the step closer to the creation of the centre, Senior Macmillan Development Manager, Paula Kealey, said: “We’re delighted to be working in close partnership with the Western Trust on this exciting development.

“This will be Northern Ireland’s first health and wellbeing campus. Macmillan will be working with the Trust and charities on both sides of the border to ensure that people coming from North or South get all the information and support they need.”

Macmillan has funded nearly 150 capital builds across the UK. Our team of architects and designers listen carefully to the people coming through our doors and use their feedback to make each new information and support centre better than the last.

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The new health and wellbeing campus will help people with cancer and other long term conditions both during and after treatment. Learning to manage long term conditions is key and getting help - whether it be information about cancer, benefits advice, counselling or access to support groups and exercise classes - is so important for people living with cancer.”