Rosemere Cancer Centre at Royal Preston Hospital has been improved through a waiting area upgrade.
This follows the Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s £50,000 purchase of new tables and chairs.
The request for the new furniture was made by team lead radiographer Daniel Humphrey in response to patient feedback.
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Daniel said: “Up to 200 patients a day receive radiotherapy treatment at Rosemere Cancer Centre. Of these, many wait for extended periods, especially those relying on patient transport to bring them in for and take them home from their appointments.
“The previous waiting room furniture was worn, mismatched and no longer fit for purpose. Some of the chairs were too low and had no armrests, causing difficulty for patients, particularly older and frail patients, to stand up safely.”
Daniel continued: “Several tables were damaged with varnish peeling and surfaces appearing dirty despite regular cleaning.
“This negatively affected patient experience, not just in terms of their physical comfort but also their mental wellbeing as unsuitable chairs and scruffy-looking tables made relaxing more difficult, adding to patient stress and anxiety.”
Since the new furniture’s arrival, a survey carried out showed 85% of patients felt the refurbished waiting room contributed to the reduction of anxiety or stress.
Sue Swire, the fundraising manager for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have been able to help Daniel and his team turn around patients’ experience of the Radiotherapy Department waiting area, which, as it extends to the Rosemere Coffee Shop, is also used by chemotherapy and other cancer Centre outpatients.
“The relatively simple fix of new, more appropriately designed furniture has had a big impact on patients’ physical and mental wellbeing, improving their overall experience of their radiotherapy treatment.”
