Macmillan Cancer Support has announced it will invest £1.9 million into a new cancer support centre that will be located within the Ashford Hospital site of the Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (ASPH) and will offer free advice and support to local cancer patients and their families at every step of their cancer journey.
Macmillan and ASPH have been working together for the past 18 months to better understand the needs of local people affected by cancer and this will result in a planning application to turn a vacant space in a hospital courtyard into a welcoming, relaxing non-clinical space. The purpose-built facility will provide a long-awaited space where experts and trained volunteers will listen, answer questions, and offer personalised information and support to help manage the impact of cancer. As well as getting help with money worries and emotional support, patients will be able to access nurses and counselling sessions, complementary therapies, exercise classes and support groups.
The Centre is due to be up and running by the end of 2024, however, two new exciting, community-based roles are already in post and starting to work with cancer patients and their families. They are building links with community organisations and local support services so the Macmillan Cancer Support Centre will be a hub for a network of information and support at the hospital and close to patients’ homes.
Andy Anderson is a former cancer patient, who has been instrumental in the design and development of the Centre; “I'm honoured to have been asked to be part of the Project Board as a ‘patients' representative’ in establishing the new Macmillan Cancer Support Centre in Ashford Hospital. It would have been fantastic if there had been one around 10 years ago when I was first diagnosed with lymphoma and subsequently underwent treatment. I truly believe the Centre will provide so much support to anyone who's been affected by cancer and is living in the surrounding areas. This will make a huge difference to people's lives.”
Rachel Hinxman, Partnership Manager at Macmillan said “I’m thrilled to announce that Macmillan is investing in and helping to shape the new Macmillan Cancer Support Centre. It will be the first of its kind located in North-West Surrey, offering free information, advice and support to the 30,000 people living with cancer in the locality. Macmillan and ASPH have a long-standing working relationship and this joint development will lead to even more improvements in cancer support for local people enabling them to live their lives to the full.”
ASPH Chief Executive Julie Smith said: “I’m delighted to have Macmillan Cancer Support as a partner in this exciting project. We are grateful for their investment, enabling us to have a Macmillan Cancer Support Centre, that will bridge a gap for our citizens within North West Surrey and beyond. The centre will provide much needed holistic care, support and information, nearer to home, in a more relaxed and less clinical environment. It will be a great addition to the continued developments at Ashford Hospital.”
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Update on the Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at Ashford Hospital Friday, 13 March 2026 The building works are well underway. So far, we’ve seen the site being cleared, preparation work for the concrete base to be installed. Steelworks providing the frame and sturdy structure for the new building with the roof being added just before Christmas, making the building ‘weather tight’, which means the roof will keep the inside of the dry for the rest of the internal works to be completed, just in time before all the torrential rain. |
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Ground-breaking News as Works Start for a New Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at Ashford Hospital Friday, 31 January 2025 Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support broke ground in January, marking the start the building works to create a long-awaited Macmillan Cancer Support Centre for our cancer patients, their families, carers and friends. |
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