Too many of us know someone with cancer.
By supporting the cancer fund, you can help enhance cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care, right here in our local community. Where our hospitals care for people from across East Surrey and West Sussex.
Donations directly help support the East Surrey Macmillan Cancer Support Centre, enhance the chemotherapy suite at East Surrey Hospital, and chemotherapy day unit in Crawley Hospital, as well as diagnostic imaging & scans at East Surrey Hospital, Crawley Hospital, Horsham Hospital, and elsewhere.
You can help enhance the treatment, make hospital more comfortable for people going through their treatment, help provide support groups, and enhanced rehabilitation too. You can help people with cancer, when they need it most.
HELP PEOPLE THROUGH CHEMOTHERAPY IN EAST SURREY & CRAWLEY.
Chemotherapy induced hair loss can be a distressing side effect of cancer treatment. Sometimes having a real impact on people's self esteem, at an already difficult time.
Scalp cooling is a well recognized intervention which can help reduce hair loss for people going through chemotherapy.
We are asking for your help to raise £44,000 to purchase two double scalp cooling machines. One for the Comet day chemotherapy unit in Crawley Hospital, and one for the Chemotherapy Suite in East Surrey Hospital.
Donations helped us purchase one scalp cooling machine previously, but we would love to be able to provide this to more people, at both our chemotherapy sites. At present, demand exceeds the current machine's capacity.
These machines will directly enhance the experience people have through their cancer treatment, and beyond.
Please consider a donation to the cancer fund today.
CHILDRENS CANCER ISOLATION ROOMS
Where children locally have cancer, they are regularly cared for at East Surrey Hospital. Often staying in one of the Outwood Ward isolation rooms for many days at a time. We have been working with local parents, children, and the children's nursing team on how to transform these rooms to feel like a real home from home. Donations to our children's appeal, or the cancer fund can help towards our goal of raising £50,000 to transform these rooms.
HELP ENHANCE THE FAMILY ROOMS
For families of people with cancer, the quiet rooms in the hospital are vital spaces for moments of quiet, and for important conversations with hospital staff about a loved ones health. With your help we want to make all these spaces more comfortable, for people going through a difficult time. We are currently working with the team in Godstone Ward to enhance their room.
HELP TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Your donation to the Cancer Fund can help to enhance the equipment for diagnosis and treatment of cancer right here in your local hospital. We work closely with the cancer team in East Surrey and Crawley Hospitals on a list of additional equipment which (with your support) would help to enhance the care the hospitals can provide.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Donations to the cancer fund increasingly help with smaller (but important) things too - such as refreshments for support groups (which used to be funded by the cancer nurses themselves). Sometimes a cup of tea and a biscuit with people who understand can be really important.
REHAB (AND 'PREHAB')
Engaging in 'prehab' (prehabilitation) and 'rehab' (rehabilitation) is one of the most proactive steps people can take on their cancer journey. Prehab focuses on preparing your body and mind before treatment begins; by improving physical fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, to help people face surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatments with greater strength, potentially leading to fewer complications and a quicker initial recovery. Rehab, which can start during or after treatment, is helpful for managing side effects like fatigue and pain, helping to rebuild strength, restore mobility, and regain confidence.
We hope to build on previous pilot schemes here at SASH NHS Trust. Creating new programmes of rehab and prehab to go beyond what the NHS could normally provide.
HOW HAVE YOUR DONATIONS ALREADY HELPED?
In recent years, your donations to the SASH Cancer Fund have had a big impact. You have helped to refurbush the chemotherapy suite at East Surrey Hospital, with new bright wall coverings and advanced chemotherapy chairs, a gift from a grateful family member of a patient allowed us to purchase a cold cap machine - to help reduce hair loss for people receiving chemotherapy.
You've helped provide heat pads to enhance patient comfort, and to provide a new electrically adjustable mamography chair. This chair helps people who struggle to stand to receive mamograms which otherwise might not be possible here at East Surrey Hospital - having a huge impact for people.
Most recently your donations have also funded the installation of a new summerhouse in the garden of the East Surrey Macmillan Cancer Centre - creating a beautiful new sheltered and shaded space in the garden for individuals, and groups.
The idea for the summerhouse came from centre users. Centre user Gill said:
“ The Summerhouse would be an all weather peaceful sanctuary, a restorative oasis surrounded by the garden away from the hustle and bustle of the hospital for therapy, relaxation classes or just a private chat. For many people, their skin can be very sensitive to burning from the sun during radiotherapy, so a covered area/Summerhouse surrounded by the beautiful garden here where you can go for a private chat or therapy will be a great asset to recovery”
About the East Surrey Macmillan Cancer Centre
The East Surrey Macmillan Cancer Support centre was opened in 2017, jointly funded by Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH), and the generous support of Macmillan Cancer Support. The centre offers additional holistic care and support in a friendly and non-clinical environment for people affected by cancer. Whether a patient, carer, family member or friend, the centre provides a welcoming atmosphere where people can receive practical advice, emotional support or simply a listening ear, at any stage of their cancer experience.
Fundraising for the East Surrey Cancer Centre is now through the Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Charity Cancer Fund. This fund supports the centre itself, and the related cancer services here at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
Alongside the projects listed above - any additional funds raised will help further enhance cancer services here at Surrey & and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, for patients, families, and staff who care for us all.
Donations to the Cancer Fund are designated for use for cancer services, and people affected by Cancer in the SASH area. Donations not used for cancer services would be used to support other charitable activities for patients and staff across SASH NHS Trust.