The first urological facility of its type in the UK is to be officially opened in Aberdeen today by Nicola Sturgeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.
A former ward bay at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary's Ward 44 has been transformed into a welcoming and contemporary patient support centre, which will be used to provide newly diagnosed urological cancer patients with clear information and guidance.
The UCAN care centre has been designed to incorporate best practice and ideas from other support bases, helping patients and their families to make informed choices about treatment and the care they will receive.
Ms Sturgeon will be given a tour of the centre, which includes a private clinicians' room where families can be told the results of tests or discuss treatment with medical staff and specialist nurses.
This opens out into a room which has comfortable chairs, tea and coffee making facilities, fully equipped computers with internet access, an online forum, literature on urological cancers and the treatment on offer and plasma screens showing informative DVDs commissioned by UCAN, the local urological cancer charity.
The new facility is an integrated part of the hospital and will be managed by NHS Grampian.
The official handover to the NHS marks the conclusion of the first phase of UCAN's objective of adding value to NHS services by raising £2.6million over three years.
UCAN was established in late 2005 to raise awareness of the four main urological cancers – testicular, prostate, bladder and kidney – and improve support and quality of life for patients by raising money for the new centre.
As well as generous support from the local construction industry, the £1million raised so far has come from a generous mix of corporate donations and numerous fundraising events, ranging from fashion shows and bike rides to abseils and a Pants Walk in Duthie Park.
The campaign has also just been boosted by a grant of £590,096 made to UCAN by the largest of the National Lottery Good Cause Distributors, the Big Lottery Fund, for a network and mentoring service for patients, supported by people who have already undergone treatment for urological cancer.
Ms Sturgeon said: "I am delighted to be opening this impressive facility which aims to raise awareness of urological cancers and ultimately improve patient experiences of care and treatment.
"Cancer remains a top priority for the Scottish Government and we are committed to seeking innovative ways to address it. This is why I am delighted that prevention and early diagnosis will be a feature of the centre's work."
Consultant urological surgeon Sam McClinton, who is also on the board of the charity, warmly welcomed the completion of the centre - but stressed this is only the beginning.
"This wonderful new centre was made possible through generous donations from the construction industry in the north of Scotland, other business leaders, the Big Lottery Fund and those who generously donate to UCAN," he said.
"We are confident this is going to make a real difference to local patients – so much so that the model for the centre is going to be utilised as the blueprint for similar kinds of facilities throughout the country.
"In the UK, around 18,000 die every year from urological cancers and this figure continues to rise.
"It's therefore essential that we continue to raise awareness of urological cancers and carry on raising money, attracting donors who are able to support our ongoing work and therefore enabling us to help and support more and more patients."
Current and former patients will be among the guests who will be attending the launch on Monday.
Ms Sturgeon will be greeted by Professor Neva Haites and Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen – which is working closely with UCAN to confirm Aberdeen as a centre of excellence in research into urological cancers.
She will then be escorted round Ward 44 by Mr McClinton and Richard Carey, Chief Executive of NHS Grampian.
The Cabinet Secretary will be introduced to the UCAN directors and medical and nursing staff working on the ward, before being shown the UCAN Care Centre, where she will be invited to unveil a plaque marking the official launch.
Mr Carey will officially receive the new centre from UCAN. He said: "This tremendous and very impressive gift will greatly benefit patients in the north of Scotland. We are all very proud of this new centre – the first of its kind in Scotland for patients with urological cancers.
"It represents the culmination of the dedication, enthusiasm and very hard work of UCAN's many supporters and is an example of the NHS working with the voluntary sector.
"This centre is a great asset to newly diagnosed patients, providing them with clear information, support and guidance and helping them and their families make informed decisions about their treatment and care."
Professor C Duncan Rice of the University of Aberdeen, said: "Aberdeen has a long history of excellence in medical research. The close partnership we have forged with the NHS, and our co-location on the Foresterhill site, are vital factors in the advances we are making in medical knowledge.
"Urological cancers are an area of research to which we are strongly committed. James N'Dow and his colleagues are fast making Aberdeen an internationally important centre in the field.
"UCAN provides a focus for attracting wider partnerships, testing new ideas and innovations in care, and leading ground-breaking research - all of which play to our traditional strengths. I am delighted to see the opening of this centre, and to look ahead to all that we can achieve together in furthering understanding, treatment and care for conditions which affect a growing number in our local communities and beyond."
Commenting on the £590,096 grant made to UCAN, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Director, Dharmendra Kanani, added: "I am delighted to announce that UCAN's "Making Life Better" project will receive over half a million pounds to establish what will be a vital network and mentoring service for people at the start of a difficult period and confusing time. This award truly illustrates how Lottery funding is being used to support people at a crossroads, or transition, in their lives."
As well as giving presentations and talks, UCAN staff, including research nurses, can work with companies to help improve health awareness in the workforce and help introduce health promoting activities that will benefit both staff and the company.
For more information on how to get involved with supporting UCAN, visit www.ucanhelp.org.uk or www.bebo.com/UCAN-Help or call fundraising manager Kate Synott on (01224) 559312.