Plans submitted for £800,000 Woodlands Cancer Centre extension

Progress towards securing an £800,000 extension at the Woodlands Cancer Centre took a significant step when the plans were submitted for approval from Huntingdonshire District Council.

A design and access statement by Martindales Architects Ltd sets out the need for more space, stating capacity has been a problem at the unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital for three to four years due to a rise in the number of cancer patients.

It continued: “As a result of the lack of clinical space, some of the services have been relocated to the main building. This is not good practice and has a direct effect on the patient experience.”

Essential additional facilities listed in the application include extra clinic rooms, more treatment chairs for chemotherapy to be delivered and a larger waiting area.

What is planned is said to be “architecturally striking” and “distinctly modern” in appearance, with solar panels on the roof. A new main entrance and waiting areas will go on what is currently an area of grass next to the centre.

Patients receiving chemotherapy will have a “view out” from the quadrant-shaped extended section, which promises to have a “light, airy feel”.

Outside, there will be a courtyard garden for patients and relatives.

Woodlands lead nurse Lynda Hall said: “This will provide us with much needed space to be able to treat the increasing number of patient referrals.”