The new NGS Macmillan Wellbeing Centre at Southmead has been designed to make cancer patients feel at home; a place where they can feel like themselves and take part in activities. It has a kitchen table at its heart – coffee and a slice of cake – chatter. Helen Martin talks to a few of those involved in the new centre’s creation and future.

There was a study by the University of Nottingham that placed a selection of patients next to a landscaped garden and others next to a wall. They found that those next to the gardens displayed clear benefits, including earlier discharge, compared to those facing the wall.

“Patients can feel vulnerable, isolated and scared while undergoing treatment,” says Ruth Sidgwick, arts programme manager.

“Their surroundings can make a patient feel better; through distraction and enjoyment in appreciating and creating. Art – a beautiful image, playing and listening to music – including one of our many choirs, here at Southmead, knitting, dancing and poetry – all of these can aid recovery enormously.”

The new NGS Macmillan Wellbeing Centre at Southmead Hospital is the opposite of a brick wall. A Victorian building and the oldest part of the Southmead Hospital site, Beaufort House has been refurbished to be a space that is both, “welcoming and beautiful,” says Ruth. The shades of paint used are meant to be calming and healing, complementing the art on the walls.

The building is a drop-in centre where those facing cancer, their friends and families can relax with a cup of tea and a slice of cake, baked by one of the many volunteers. A chat is always available, as is financial support, information about conditions and treatment options, as well as details on support groups. This readily available information should reduce the amount of GP visits by patients, as they have many of their questions answered by those at the centre.

Liz Fynn, who before retiring, used to work at a young offenders institute for 12 years, looks after the plants and will be running a gardening workshop for centre attendees. She used to volunteer at Frenchay for 18 months, before moving to Southmead.

“The colours used and use of space has been really thought about, and the atmosphere is wonderful. It hasn’t got a hospital feel at all. There are two quiet rooms and a meeting room for one-on-one chats. There is also a central point, the heart of the centre, which has a large farmhouse style kitchen table, with chairs all round. A real home from home. It’s great that we are here for people, I’m so pleased and I can imagine myself volunteering at the centre for quite some time.”

There are 20 volunteers at the centre, with a waiting list of eager potential volunteers.

Integral to the day-to-day running and ethos of the Wellbeing Centre is project manager Helen France. “The aim is to create a thoroughly enjoyable and informative experience. We offer advice on diet and physical wellbeing, a walking group, and a timetable of events and therapies will shortly be available, including massage, mindfulness and reflexology. We are already hosting Living Well events and the centre will have its first Look Good Feel Better event at the beginning of November, where make-up and hair tips will be shared.”

“I want the centre to be a place where patients can feel like themselves. This is key,” adds Helen, who has a background in palliative care and understands what those affected by cancer need and will benefit from.

Ruth helped with the design of the building, working with artists to make the environment as pleasant as possible. She passionately believes in everyone who has contact with the hospital, expressing and recording feelings. “Art comes in many forms and it can be such a valuable tool for people,” she says.

Ruth tells of 88 year-old Gladys, who taught a number of the staff members to knit. She loved the role of teacher, and the hospital staff were able to connect with patients and colleagues on a relaxed, personal level.

Ruth also mentions the Emergency Poet Ambulance that prescribes healing words in the form of poetry. This will be parked up during the Fresh Arts Festival, which will be running from October 16-18. The festival will include local and community choirs, a knitting installation and staff memories turned into monologues by Show of Strength theatre company. People are encouraged to see the new Brunel building, designed to make the new hospital a more pleasant environment for patients and staff through the use of arts.

Go and take a look, enjoy the activities – be proud. No brick walls here. 

The centre is a partnership between the Trust and Macmillan is the first of its kind in Bristol. It is non-referral and open to both patients and their friend and families. The NGS Macmillan Wellbeing Centre has been named in recognition of the support the charity receives from the National Garden Scheme.

For more information, visit www.nbt.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-services/ngs-macmillan-wellbeing-centre.