West Norfolk cancer patients are just weeks away from returning to a refurbished care and treatment centre.
The Macmillan site at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn has enjoyed a £255,00 renovation thanks to the efforts of the late local fundraiser Gavin English, charity supporters, partner charities and the hospital’s own charity.
QEH Head of Nursing for Medicine Karon Strong and her team have worked with the wider hospital team to bring Gavin’s wishes and those of cancer patients to life: a unit filled with light, dignity, and comfort for more than 12,000 people from across West Norfolk who receive treatment and support there each year.
The Cancer Care and Treatment Centre’s chemotherapy suite first opened in 2011, with a treatment room added in 2016.
The hospital said fourteen years on from its opening, the unit had become outdated, cluttered, and lacking the privacy, comfort and facilities patients and staff needed. Poor lighting, cramped waiting areas, and limited seating had become a daily reality for patients who face long hours of treatment.
While work is underway, patients are continuing to receive their treatment in the former Discharge Lounge, which has been temporarily adapted to ensure continuity of care.
The refurbishment is expected to cater for the needs of more than 70,000 patients the hospital expects to treat before the New QEH opens in 2032. Today’s major investment will transform the experience for patients and staff now by providing:
- Greater comfort – new seating and treatment couches
- Improved layout – redesigned areas giving patients more dignity during sensitive procedures
- Calming atmosphere with softer lighting to reduce stress
- Nature-inspired artwork and photography – including local landscapes as well as a crocus mural symbolising eternal love for Gavin and his wife, Frances.
- Entertainment and relaxation – a TV in the chemotherapy room, background music, books and magazines
- Clearer information – digital screens and a centralised information point
- Access to refreshments for patients and families
- New reception desk, entrance area layout with comfort cooling for summer months
- Dedicated staff spaces including a staff room and lockers to support wellbeing
Belinda Penkethman, Gavin English’s daughter, said: “Dad always wanted patients and their families to have surroundings filled with dignity, warmth and hope. To see his vision coming to life is incredibly moving.”
Gavin’s son Ray English added: “Knowing that every penny he raised is helping to make this possible is something our family will always treasure.”
Gavin’s fundraising, which totalled £116,500, came from more than 800 car boot and supermarket collections he single-handedly ran over a decade. His wish was that the centre be refurbished with colour, comfort, and crocuses – a flower that held deep personal meaning for his family. Before his death, Gavin often described QEH staff as “angels dressed as doctors and nurses”, saying they gave him and his wife Frances, who received cancer treatment, an extra 15 precious months together – time he treasured.
Alongside Gavin’s fundraising, additional generous donations from the Breast of Friends charity (£9,500) and the Robert Foot Leukaemia Foundation (£10,000) have helped bring the project to life alongside donations by patients, families and local organisations.
Karon Strong, Head of Nursing for Medicine, said: “This refurbishment will make a huge difference to both patients and staff. It is creating a sanctuary where people feel safe, respected and supported. My nursing team and I worked hard with our patients and project team and we are so proud to see Gavin’s dream being realised. Without him and other incredible supporters, this simply would not have been possible.”
The refurbished Macmillan Care and Treatment Centre is on track to reopen in September 2025, with an official opening ceremony planned for October.
