MP backs major fundraising appeal to benefit leukaemia patients at Southampton General Hospital

A major fundraising drive has been launched by Southampton Hospital Charity to raise £2.2 million to create the transplant treatment centre of choice for teenage and adult patients with leukaemia and other blood disorders from Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire, Dorset, West Sussex and the Channel Islands.

Recent visitor to Southampton General, MP Lembit Opik, is supporting the drive and says, "Everything I've seen about the organisers of this appeal and their intentions makes me proud to know them. The best thing about the human race is that we genuinely seem to care about each other; that human spirit lies at the heart of this launch. On behalf of the one in 25 of our population at threat from leukaemia, myeloma or lymphoma I thank you. My late brother who was anaemic knew all to well the importance of addressing blood related disorders."

The hospital has secured £5million from the Department of Health, and this, in addition to the Trust's own resources, will fund a brand new extension to the hospital to house new beds for haematology patients who need a bone marrow transplant, as well as a reconfiguration and modernisation of the current ward area. This new unit will offer a pioneering service for patients who undergo chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplants to treat cancers of the blood.

Many patients endure long spells of isolation on the unit, living for several months in sterile side rooms that have higher air pressure than outside to remove infectious bugs.

Dr Kim Orchard, director of the bone marrow transplant programme says, 'If a person is diagnosed with leukaemia they are probably going to spend the next three months in our unit undergoing treatment. The unit becomes a home to them during one of the most frightening experiences of their life and this investment will have a huge impact on their experience.'

'Many of the treatments we offer are part of research programmes that put us at the forefront of this highly complex field of medicine. Now we can develop a world class environment to match our clinical standards which are some of the best in the country.'

The entire project will enable the hospital to increase its capacity from 19 to 28 beds and as patients often have to stay in hospital for between three and seven months, the development of more single rooms with views to the outside world, will be of huge benefit to both patients and their relatives.

However, this is as far as the money stretches, so Southampton Hospital Charity is aiming to raise an additional £2.2million to fund a new specially designed Day Case Unit for patients, which will be built next to the current inpatient facilities and the new extension.