The target of the BMT&CT Room with a View Appeal is to raise funds for the refurbishment and expansion of the C6 Leukaemia, Transplant and Cellular Therapy ward at University Hospital Southampton.
Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with over 41,000 people being diagnosed with it every year.
There are about 250,000 people living with blood cancer in the UK. One in every 16 men and 1 in every 22 women with develop it at some time in their lives.
As the largest transplant centre in the south of England (excluding London), the demand and expectations placed on the transplant service is increasing. At UHS we want to ensure that our patients have the best experience during their stay, from both the internal and external environment.
The expansion of C6 will also include a neutropenic garden - an outside space close to C6, where patients can safely leave their room and experience a safe and sensory experience, away from their enclosed hospital room.
Patients undergoing transplants have prolonged hospital stays, which can have long term physical and psychological consequences. Several studies have shown that having a view from a window can improve attention and reduce stress.
Being able to spend time in a green space or bringing nature into everyday life has also been shown to improve outcomes for physical and mental health.
For more information on the expansion and proposed garden for C6 or other ways you can support this appeal, please contact the BMT Team at UHS:
Email CharityBMT@uhs.nhs.uk
Telephone during office hours: 02381 202712