York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 800,000 people living in and around York, North East Yorkshire and Ryedale – an area covering 3,400 square miles. Despite covering such a vast area, there is limited provision of cancer specific information and support for local people.

At the start of the pandemic, the Cancer Care Centre at York Hospital was closed. Online information resources, virtual conversations, and telephone contacts have been developed to support patients and their carers. Although the centre has now reopened, due to limited space and capacity, it can only serve people in person twice a week (Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am-3pm).

Unfortunately, demand for the service has doubled. Three part-time Macmillan Health and Wellbeing officers cover the entire York and Scarborough area, but an increased complexity in patient needs and the growing number of people living with cancer means that not everyone will be able to access the support they need.

The transformation of the centre will revolutionise the experience and wellbeing for thousands of people living with cancer in York and beyond.

Macmillan has pledged to raise £2.1 million to cover the costs of the redevelopment of this centre. We rely almost entirely on voluntarily contributions to fund all areas of our work, and we need to ask those who can, to consider a donation to help realise this impact for local people affected by cancer.

For further information please contact yorkappeal@macmillan.org.uk

We are raising funds for a Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at York Hospital. In the unlikely event that the centre does not go ahead of or there is a surplus of funds, we will use the donations, not used or needed for the build, to provide much needed help and support to people living with cancer.