Receiving Radiotherapy treatment can be very unnerving and with most radiotherapy patients attending daily for treatment, for up to six weeks, the environment in which treatment is received is very important. Whilst the Radiotherapy team at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) try to create a sense of community and support for the patient when they visit the department the facilities at present make this somewhat difficult.

With input from existing and former patients the Radiotherapy team would like to make some fundamental changes to the radiotherapy waiting area in the Luke building at NGH. Their aim is to make the waiting area a more comfortable area with a range of seating spaces where patients can chat and share experiences with each other and enjoy a warm drink whilst they wait for their appointment and after treatment.

Jane Wilkinson, Radiotherapy Manager says The Radiotherapy department is very busy and uses very high-tech equipment which does unfortunately need some attention from engineers quite regularly, which leads to delays for patients, we hope that by providing patients with a pleasant environment with access to free tea and coffee while they wait will be an invaluable improvement in their experience. By changing the current design of the waiting area we hope to replicate the same sense of community that has emerged from another smaller radiotherapy waiting area where patients talk to one another more easily due to the seating layout, and they have found that sharing experiences has helped them through their treatment, so much so that some patients continue to meet up for lunch and get togethers after finishing their course of treatment.

These changes are not essential but they will make the world of difference to patients undergoing Radiotherapy treatment at NGH. Former Radiotherapy patient Clare Irving says Radiotherapy is a journey nobody chooses, when faced with having to go for treatment every day for up to 37 days it feels like youll never get to the end of it. Having a friendly and comfortable waiting area is so incredibly important, small things mean so much, after treatment you feel dazed and uneasy so having a comfortable place to sit and have a cup of tea is vital before you try and carry on with the rest of your day before returning the next day. A waiting room that allows easy conversation is so important so patients can talk to each other because only the people going through radiotherapy know what its like. Its a lonely journey so being able to talk it through is crucial and very therapeutic.

With your help we can provide a comfortable seating area, with access to free hot drink for patients going through a very though time, its not much to ask, but we cant do it without you! Please help us make the lives of cancer sufferers a little bit easier.